Translator: Skythewood
Editor: Hiiro
So he started. The youth grit his teeth. Coldly analyzing the evidence to expose the wrongdoings of his comrades weighed heavily on him.
「... During the defensive battles of the tableland, I already predicted that the enemy might throw Sprites over to commit arson, and at the same time— I predicted that the Sprites might be a means for the enemy to communicate with the traitor.」
When he said that, Patrenshina felt a chill run down her spine.
「It would be hard to send intel to Kioka from our base. Messenger pigeon wasn’t possible, a letter tied to an arrow might not be noticed by the Kioka army, and light signals would take too long. In that case, the most practical method would be via Sprites. By dropping the Sprite bearing the message down the cliff, it would walk right towards the Kioka soldiers.」
「......」
「However, the message couldn’t be sent by their partner. Sprites are indispensable partners for a soldier, and this would be a one way trip. But the Sprites from other Imperial soldiers wouldn’t do as they say— so my attention was on the Fire Sprites thrown over by the Kioka army. Because they would surely bring the intel back to the Kioka camp.」
Her sense of impending doom made Patrenshina breathe out as if she was out of breath.
「With that speculation in mind, I made an arrangement— When the battle started, I also released tens of Kioka Fire Sprite we had captured earlier.」
When humans were forced to the brink, they would naturally show a smile.
「Back then, didn’t you think there were plenty of Sprites loitering around your feet? Half of them were thrown in by the Kioka army, the other half were released on my orders. And of course, I made arrangements to make them indistinguishable from each other— since the Sprites thrown in by Kioka were already disguised as Imperial Sprites. It would be hard to differentiate them. And I told those Sprites, in exchange for the safety of their masters, they were to answer when questioned, that they were Kioka Sprites in the middle of an operation.」
A cold, cruel and utterly merciless trap. She thought to herself— This was it. He would need a blade that sharp to destroy her.
「Do you get it? I snuck in some double agents into the Sprites that the Kioka threw over. I then periodically released them, taking note to differentiate the double agents from the new Sprites… what would happen then?
The answer is simple. Compared to the Kioka spy Sprites that are locked up once caught, the double agent Sprites have a higher chance of being noticed. The Sprites falling from the sky are really obvious, and would get caught in no time, so during the later stages, more than 80% of the Sprites are double agents.」
Everything he said were tricks she was proud of. But that was just her delusions. She finally realized why Jean Arkinex refused to take her reports into his plans.
「We predicted that the spy would retrieve two Sprites. One of them was sent to the Kioka camp to relay intel, and luckily, it was a real Kioka Sprite… But, what about the other?」
Just like how Ikuta never properly faced Haro’s dark side, they never delved into how strong the youth actually was. Not just the depths, they didn’t even know the breadth of his knowledge.
「That’s right, it’s the Sprite found in Major Yuguni’s backpack. On the surface, we declare that as an enemy Sprite, but it has secretly reported the truth to me.」
He would conclude his answer soon. The youth used the most brilliant method to announce it to them.
「Hence… I already know who caught that Sprite and hid it in Major Yuguni’s backpack.」
Ikuta concluded and cast his eyes down again. He felt absolutely disgusted with the way he was eviscerating a comrade.
「— Splendid.」
Hearing an unfamiliar voice, Ikuta looked up on reflex and found that his deductions were on point. That woman’s smile, tone, and presence— didn’t belong to the Haro he knew.
「This is a total defeat, it’s almost driving me mad. What a joke. I thought things are getting dicey, but to think this is already checkmate all along.」
The woman held her stomach and giggled. The intense impact made her turn to self mockery, and she remained cheerful even though all her facade had been seen through.
「Ikuta Solork, so you know what’s something a spy must never do in the place of operation?」
「......」
「I will do it here to commemorate this humiliation.」
The woman stood up and curtsey before Ikuta, then introduced herself.
「Good evening— I’m Patrenshina. I hope you will remember this name, since you are the second person I directly give this name to.」
Ikuta narrowed his eyes. That foreign name opened a drawer in his memories.
「《The Mischievous Patrenshina》... A children’s song from Nitagua, huh.」
「Oh, so you even know this song… Oh right, your mother is from Kioka. This song is popular over there, so it’s no surprise that she heard it before.」
The unexpected connection brightened her mood, and the woman continued her introduction in enemy territory with a deeper smile.
「As you can see, I’m the protagonist of a children’s song, the heroine that the good girl Haro admired. Explaining it in your terms, I’m a different persona.」
「When, and what event made you the way you are?」
「You can imagine what you like. I don’t want to bring it up— But you have an idea, right? You can imagine what kind of hell we grew up in from the way we are.」
She answered reservedly and didn’t say anymore. The commemoration of her defeat ended there— her cheery attitude vanished and the coldness of a spy engulfed her once again.
「Alright then— time to end this.」
Before she even finished, she was kneeling on one knee on the bench with her body close to Ikuta. That posture looks like a couple kissing to bystanders, however, the woman had a gleaming knife on the youth’s neck.
「A soldier is hidden on the second storey of that building, ready to snipe in an emergency— Am I right?」
「......」
「Regrettably, you have missed your chance. Since I have moved here behind you, the Wind Gun can’t open fire. And… I can slit your throat before you do anything else.」
Patrenshina’s seductive voice entered the youth’s ear. The taboo of assassination had been shelved away. With the failure of her espionage mission, the last thing she could do was to kill this man, the biggest threat to Kioka, and flee.
「— But I don’t understand. You won the espionage battle after so much hardship, so why make a suicidal move like this? You just need to dispose of me without any hesitation.」
The sarcastic question echoed from inches away. Haro was watching the conversation between Ikuta and her. Since she had to use her last resort, Haro could only watch on helplessly.
「Speak your last words. I’m a little curious about what you might say before your death.」
Patrenshina toyed with her prey, with a face determined to kill him. When Ikuta heard that, he nodded with no regards for the blade on his throat.
「... Yes. I have something to say.」
He said and looked Haro in the eye.
—Huh?
They locked gazes. Haro looked at Ikuta’s eyes through the persona of Patrenshina. Patrenshina’s heart almost stopped from surprise.
「Haro, you have been a bad girl.」
The first words out of the youth’s mouth stabbed more viciously into her breasts than the sharpest blade. That’s right— She was a bad girl. Once the truth was exposed, she wouldn’t be loved anymore...
「A very bad girl… just like everyone would want to play pranks occasionally.」
Ikuta’s next sentence caught her off guard, and Haro looked up again.
— Ahh...
She thought he was admonishing him, but that wasn’t so. The youth looked at her with his gentle black eyes with no intention of judging her.
「But that is fine. Even if you are not a good girl, even if you are not pure and kind, and your hands are stained with sins— there is still a place that will forgive all that.」
He slowly reached out to Haro who was buried under all that malice. He wasn’t judging her or asking her to repent, he was just reaching out to a girl in despair because she couldn’t be a good girl.
「Come back to us. We have been waiting for you all this while.」
He didn’t ask anything. He didn’t want any reason. It didn’t matter who you were— Haro finally realized that the dark-haired youth came to see them with that resolve.
「Haro who is a bad girl and also a good girl— All of us love you.」
As the ending loomed before her, she realized that she was already loved by them.
「...... Huh...?」
Patrenshina, who was ready to slit Ikuta’s throat with a knife, in order to finish off this last game, suddenly stopped.
「...... Please, Haro. Stop.」
Her wrist was grabbed— by her right hand, Haro’s dominant hand. Her right hand clamped on her left hand like a vice, stopping it from wielding the weapon it was holding.
「Stop— It’s my turn, right? I have to destroy everything, you know?」
Patrenshina fell into panic. She couldn’t understand— She was born to let Haro survive in a hellish place, and couldn’t tell why Haro was stopping her.
「Why? Why are you stopping me? All the kindness and sacrifices will be trampled by us— isn’t that our wish!? Isn’t that the rule of our hellish life!?」
She still didn’t realize that the hell that she knew wasn’t everything in this world.
「We already decided, so why are you— Ahh!」
Her scream stopped abruptly. Patrenshina was overwhelmed by the resistance from within her, and threw her head back— and then slumped her head down limbly.
And then— the voice said with a weak and hoarse voice, a voice that Ikuta was very familiar with.
「... My, wish...」
She slowly raised her head. Haroma Becker continued holding her left arm that would go berserk if she relaxed, and expressed her feelings with a smile and tears in her eyes.
「...... My wish, has just been, granted......」
One step, two, three— Haro backed away from the youth while holding her left arm… Her dual persona of good and evil built on countless self deceit. She refuted the foundation that her double personality was built on, and faced her true wish all this while.
「... Ahh—」
She was never rewarded for being a good girl.
Malice grew in her heart because she couldn’t survive by being a good girl.
She believed that she had no right to be loved if she wasn’t a good girl.
Just once— she wanted someone to tell her that they would still love her even if she was a bad girl.
「...Ikuta-san...」
Her wish was fulfilled. No, she just learned that wish had already been fulfilled.
Why didn’t she notice— how lucky she was to have such great friends. She didn’t need to say she wanted to be loved, and she didn’t need to pay any price to be loved— they loved and accepted her unconditionally.
Feeling blissed for the first time in her life, Haro smiled. It was a clear smile of satisfaction.
Indeed, therefore— to protect her friends…
「... I’m glad that I met with all of you...!」
She snatched the knife from her sinister left hand, and stabbed at her own throat without any hesitation.
He shouted the name of the sniper, Torway, and at the same time, tossed his clutch aside and pounced at her.
「Woaahh—!」
The knife in Haro’s right hand was knocked away by a bullet, and Ikuta tackled her, pinning Haro’s right arm and body down.
「— No, Ikuta-san— Let me go—!」
「I won’t let you go!」
Haro tried to push the youth away with a sad expression. She had to— since her left arm still wanted to murder Ikuta. But Ikuta dismissed that threat, focusing only on her right arm that was trying to kill herself. His only focus was on preventing Haro from dying.
「Please let me go— Let me die— Or else, I can’t stop myself from killing you...!」
「I won’t!」
Haro yearned to commit suicide. He knew that she was doing this to protect him, but Ikuta wouldn’t permit it.
「I won’t let you die! I won’t let anyone in the Knights Corp die before me again...!」
He searched quickly through his mind to find a way to resolve this. The sniper is too far away, so he would be the only one on scene, and had to settle this himself somehow.
— Mischievous girl Patrenshina, today is the day you get your just deserts.
All your pranks have been uncovered, and you will get scolded and break into tears—
And his conclusion was to sing a song.
Ikuta recalled the lyrics and melody from his memories, and sang into Haro’s ears.
— Here she comes, her mother in a red apron.
She apologized with her daughter, then took her hand and led her home—
Her struggling left arm trembled and stopped moving. This children’s song was the origin of Patrenshina’s birth. The melody she was so familiar with had new lines she had never heard before.
— The mother told her sobbing daughter, 「dinner will be stew tonight.」
That was her favourite dish, and her tears stopped right then.
She sang blissfully on the way to the kitchen and cooked together with her mother.
「Let’s start our wonderful work. Let’s get on with it.」—
When the heartwarming song concluded with a happy ending… Haro’s left arm had calmed down… Like a child in deep slumber from her mother’s lullaby.
「... The actual lyrics didn’t have this eleventh chorus. It’s made up by my mother.」
Ikuta maintained his posture of holding Haro and said to her quietly. A tear rolled down her cheeks.
「I’m very worried about you. Did you return home properly after playing your pranks? I’m always worried after singing this song… So I can't help making up an ending. The lyrics of a mischievous and playful girl returning to her family in a warm home.」
Haro looked up into the sky, and the nostalgic sunset was right before her. She listened intently— to the sound of children rushing home from a distance.
「— The sun is going to set. Go home, Patrenshina. Go home together with Haro.
You must be hungry after playing around all day, right? Let’s cook dinner together.」
Ikuta called out to her. He maintained a tight hold on her, as if to lock this precious life tightly within his arms.
「Together with the people you love, and sit around the warm dinner table—」
The sky slowly darkened, and the crows cawed.
At this moment— the rays of dark red sunlight fell indiscriminately onto both good and bad children.
Chapter 4: A Strong Dose of Medicine
「...... Ughh...」
In the room with a lively atmosphere, a blonde girl was sitting beside a dark-haired youth on a bench, and she seemed a little distracted.
「What’s wrong, Chamille? You seem troubled, anything bothering you?」
「N-Not really. I have lots of problems, but I’m not thinking about them right now...」
Chamille wasn’t sure how to express herself and answered vaguely as she watched Ikuta and the scene before her.
「—Haro, all this will go into the stew, right? Then I will dice it.」
「Ah! Wait, Ma-kun. Those potatoes are hard to cook thoroughly, so you have to cut them into very small pieces.」
「Well then, please cut them into 2 cm cubes… Hmm～ is the seasoning for the meat fine like this? I can make it spicier...」
Matthew, Torway and Haro were chatting intimately as they cooked. In order for all of them to cook, they picked a room in the large palace that had a kitchen of the right size.
Chamille agreed to the dark-haired youth’s proposal readily, but she couldn’t tell what his intentions were.
「... What’s going on?」
「You don’t like making dinner with everyone?」
「No, that’s great. But… How do I put it, this is like...」
A normal family dinner— before she could say that, Chamille remembered that she didn’t have the rights to say that and stopped herself.
Ikuta sensed what she was going to say and shook his head slowly.
「It’s not 『like』... This is an actual normal family dinner.」
「... Haro was colluding with Kioka?」
Matthew stared with his eyes wide open— Three days ago. After the secret battle with Patrenshina ended, Ikuta soothed the sobbing Haro and gathered the members of the Knights Corp in a nearby inconspicuous motel room.
「... Two points. If you want to surprise me with a joke, at least pick a more realistic topic. That joke was terrible. It will be more convincing to tell me that the moon will crash down in three days.」
Matthew snorted sarcastically. This was to be expected of him, and Ikuta chopped his forehead with the edge of his palm.
「—Hah!」
「Guah? W-What the hell!」
「My dear Matthew, unfortunately, you are guilty of the same thing as me, we will apologize to Haro right now. Okay, people can’t see us here… Now~stick~your head~to the~ground～」
「Why?」
Matthew was forced to prostrate along with Ikuta, and resisted bafflingly. He seeked help from Haro with his gaze, and saw her covering her eyes and sobbing. Matthew stood up in surprise.
「... Huh?... Hmm?...... Hah? Hey, Haro, don’t cry. It’s just a joke, you two are getting too into this… I didn’t know you are so good at acting.」
While he was feeling puzzled, tears fell through Haro’s fingers. Her sobbing didn’t look like an act at all, so Matthew turned to the jade-eyed youth beside him.
「Hey～Torway, what’s—」
He stopped mid sentence. The way Torway was biting his lips with downcast eyes made the pudgy youth realize this wasn’t a joke.
「................. You are serious?」
Matthew turned towards Ikuta like a rusted wind up toy, and the dark-haired youth crossed his arms with a serious face.
「Before we go on, I want to say something. It’s very important— May I?」
Ikuta said with his eyes on Matthew and Torway, then suddenly shouted.
「Haro can do bad things too!」
His sudden words made the two of them look at Ikuta in surprise. He snorted angrily.
「Ignoring this is the biggest mistake of this whole incident. Listen up— this is a reflection meeting for all members of the Knights Corp. Just for today, Yatori will join us too.」
Ikuta took off the shortsword on his waist and placed it on an empty chair, making it seem as if she was sitting there, then turned to Haro.
「Anyway, Haro, can you explain everything in detail? It doesn’t matter how long it will take, please start from the beginning.」
「... Yes!...」
Haro wiped her tears and stopped her sobbings with a nod. Ikuta added gently.
「Don’t worry, if you explain properly, everyone will understand. That’s how everyone here is.」
She nodded, looked at her comrades with her red and puffy eyes, then said with a determined face.
「— I will tell you everything.」
Haro took one hour to roughly lay out her origins.
「— Double persona, huh… Sigh, instead of Haro fooling us with her acting, this explanation sounds more believable...」
Matthew muttered bafflingly. As he was struggling to accept the truth, Ikuta suggested something.
「Haro, Matthew finds it hard to believe. This will drag on to no end, why don’t you switch her in?」
This bold solution made Haro open her eyes wide. To soothe her, the dark haired youth added.
「She is docile now, right? Don’t worry, we will subdue her if it comes to that.」
Even if Ikuta said that, it wasn’t so simple that Haro could switch personas with a nod. However, Ikuta’s eyes were serious. They were telling her to show all sides of her.
「...!」
Even without Matthew’s suspicion, this was something that had to be done sooner or later. After accepting this as something that had to be done, she clenched her fists and made up her mind.
「......Torway-san, Matthew-san, don’t hesitate to shoot me if you sense any danger.」
And of course, Haro had the resolve to kill herself without troubling them. She closed her eyes with a deep, tense breath, and tens of seconds later— She opened them.
「— I’m not some freak show for your entertainment.」
「Wooahh!」
A voice with a completely different tone made Matthew jump from his chair. The woman with Haro’s face looked at him coldly and shrugged.
「You are acting too shocked, fattie. She already said she is switching me in.」
「W-Who are you?」
「Like I said, I’m Patrenshina. If you still can’t accept this, then I can look at you like you are walking garbage and admonish you with vulgarities that’s completely uncharacteristic for Haro.」
Because Matthew didn’t answer, she did just that. Five minutes later— Matthew was utterly defeated by the violence of words, and laid on the table like a torn rag.
「... What’s with that bitch… How did she become so cruel...」
Torway felt the same way and gulped. Patrenshina put both elbows on the table in a poor display of manners and continued:
「Since you want to see our differences, next will be… I can do tricks that Haro can’t perform. Like this magic trick.」
After saying that, she pulled small items like pens, coins and handkerchiefs out of thin air. Ikuta cheered. He was well versed in such tricks, and understood how difficult it was to perform out of the blue.
「And I’m much stronger than Haro. I can kill the fattie easily with my bare hands.」
「... Hmmp!」
Matthew who was confident in melee combat reacted to her taunt. When the seeds of discord was being sowed, Ikuta swiftly interjected.
「Patrenshina. Even if it’s a joke, you shouldn’t say something like that to your pals.」
「Hah? What are you saying, I’m not your friend, buddy— Uwah!」
Before she could finish, Ikuta tugged at her cheeks. The youth stared at her sternly from close up and continued:
「I will say this again. Do not say that kind of things to your pals.」
The youth warned as he pulled and tugged at her cheeks. Unable to resist his punishment, Patrenshina said meekly with tears in her eyes.
「... Yes～ I’m sorry, I won’t do it again...」
「As long as you understand.」
Ikuta quickly let go after hearing her apology. The liberated Patrenshina nursed her cheeks with her head bowed, then looked up at the youth.
「...... Can I switch back to Haro already?」
「If you want to. But do come back if we ask for you. And also— come back if you want to see us.」
Ikuta said with a steadfast smile. Patrenshina looked at him unhappily for a while, then slowly closed her eyes. When she opened her eyes a few seconds later, she was the Haro they were familiar with.
「... Sorry, she doesn’t hold back when she speaks...」
Remembering the foul things that were said, Haro bowed deeply at Matthew in apology. Matthew and Torway were both silent, unable to recover from the shock yet. Seeing that the results were as he expected, Ikuta continued:
「— Sigh, that’s how things are. You can instinctively tell that she isn’t putting on an act.」
「She and Haro are two completely different people… I can just think of it that way, correct?」
Matthew asked with the impression he had gotten earlier. However, Ikuta shook his head with a scowl.
「If you do that, things will just go back to how they were. She is also Haro. Everyone has an evil inner child within them— In Haro’s case, that’s Patrenshina.」
Don’t get that wrong. The youth reminded his friend and continued:
「In the past, we kept ignoring that side of her. That is why I’m holding this reflection meeting for everyone in the Knights Corp. We have unconsciously over relied on Haro who is acting as a good girl, which is why we have not noticed Patrenshina all this while.」
Ikuta’s voice was filled with heavy regret. Being lazy in the wrong way was a serious taboo to him.
「Torway, Matthew and Yatori— If I treated Haro as warmly as I treated you, I would have sensed her presence earlier. This is true for all of us, so I hope everyone can reflect on that.」
「... If she approached me for help, I will gladly do so...」
「There are times when people can’t ask for help. At times like this, it is the duty of comrades to notice that someone is in trouble.」
Ikuta immediately rebuked Matthew’s weak excuse. He swept his gaze across Matthew, Torway and Yatori’s shortsword, then added with a sigh.
「Besides— it’s not just Haro, in our circle, there aren’t many forthright characters who would approach others to discuss their troubles.」
Ugghh… Torway looked down with a groan. The issue pointed out by the youth was an accurate depiction of how he had been recently.
Beside him, Matthew fell into deep thought after hearing what Ikuta said, accepting the criticism and said:
「... I know we are at fault too. You are right, we spent so much time together and trust each other to watch our backs, but I know too little about Haro. I’m ashamed about that.
However— This is different from betrayal. You confessed to your acts of betrayal, which is the point of us forgiving you in the first place.」
Matthew pressed sternly. Sensing that the moment has finally come, Haro said quietly:
「... The first espionage action I took after meeting everyone is during the naval battle, on the 『Yellow Dragon』.」
This unexpected name made the other three open their eyes wide, as they thought about what happened.
「During our sea trip to the Hioredo Ore Mines? That long ago...」
「As you know, a person similar to me —『Phantom Unit』 member, Naval Commander Danmier Kanron, is also on that ship. Yatori-san saw through his true identity, but I helped him to escape during a crucial moment.」
When he heard that, Torway nodded as if he just remembered something.
「Oh right, the hostage back then was Haro-san. Which means...」
「That’s right, I got captured intentionally. To help him get out of that mess, using a 『guest』 to the navy like me as a shield is the most effective method...」
「I see… by the way, I didn’t quite catch you earlier, did you say you are a member of the Phantom Unit?」
「Yes. My mission is different from the people we fought in the northern territories, and I’m a newbie in the special agent department...」
Matthew groaned with his hands on his head. He found it difficult to accept the true identity of the woman that had always been on his side.
「I stopped for quite a while after that— actually, I only switched to Patrenshina’s persona recently and officially began my mission. When I took part in the reconnaissance mission alongside Matthew-san and Sazarf-san. As the priests' incitement of the devotees are not complete yet, I delayed the unit's movements to bide for time. That’s why you encounter the citizens asking you for help back then.」
The slightly plump youth’s face turned even more bitter. Haro shirked her shoulders at that, but didn’t stop her confession.
「I gave instructions to the agents and provided the plan to rescue Rear Admiral Elulufay Tenerexilla. The sailors escaped from the prison camp, seized weapons and supplies in a nearby military base, then linked up directly with the devotees before heading into the mountains… That was all part of my plan.」
「So everything has been going according to your plan… You two are amazingly capable.」
Matthew couldn’t help saying that. He was more surprised than sarcastic.
「However, I wasn’t expecting Her Majesty to go personally. After her arrival, we continued our mission with the goal of increasing the Empire’s losses and protecting her. It was proceeding smoothly— until Ikuta-san’s arrival.」
Haro glanced at the dark-haired youth, cast her gaze down and continued.
「We then tried to frame Major Yuguni, contact the Kioka camp, and use all available methods, but to no avail… It was a total defeat to Ikuta-san, leading to this.」
「... How many people?」
Matthew cut in suddenly with a heavy voice.
「How many soldiers died because of your espionage?」
The mood turned tense. Haro’s shoulders shivered from the guilt, but she answered without hiding anything.
「I don’t know the exact numbers. However… including indirect reasons, probably more than one thousand.」
「......!」
The number was greater than he expected, which made Matthew slam his fist on the table. Ikuta tried to soften his tone and said.
「Matthew, as a medic, Haro has saved many… maybe even more lives.」
「Such things can’t be cancelled out!」
The pudgy youth telled. Ikuta didn’t flinch before this fact.
「You are right— but so what? I won’t blame or punish her.」
His unreasonable brash words made Matthew glare at him. Facing Matthew’s emotions head on, the dark-haired youth answered firmly.
「You can accuse me of showing favouritism. However— don’t you think the order of persecuting her is ridiculous? What about the crimes of that family who gave her a hellish childhood? And the sins of that guy who pushed a twelve year old girl into a world of betrayal just because she had the talent?」
「——!—」
「No one will pursue that matter. All those crimes will be ignored. She is just the result of a vicious chain of malice, and the true culprit should be held accountable as the source of all that… I’m not saying Haro didn’t harbour any malice. Even so, I still don’t want to blame or persecute her. Instead of doing that, as comrades, there is something more important for us to do.」
Ikuta answered and stared with firm conviction. Matthew grit his teeth and squeeze his voice out with great self restraint:
「... You are saying… blaming the person who made the mistake won’t solve the problem...?」
Ikuta suddenly relaxed his face. His words were filled with gratitude and sincere respect.
「I’m glad you remember that. Indeed— doing that will just satisfy you emotionally. Facing the source of the mistake, then teaching and guiding the person is the only answer.」
He followed Matthew’s reasoning to reach a conclusion. The pudgy youth stood up with clenched fists.
「I know, I get it!? But, damn it, my emotions can’t keep up with my logic. If I can’t blame the person who set us up, then who should take responsibility for the great number of lives lost? How do I get my emotions in order?」
With nowhere to vent his anger, the pudgy youth smashed his fist on the table. Ikuta immediately answered firmly:
「There is only one answer— we will share the responsibility. Everything that happened on that battlefield, no matter what it is, should be shouldered by everyone… Not just me alone.」
「......!」
Ikuta didn’t back down. At this moment, Matthew understood the youth’s determination towards his comrades. Compared to him two years ago, his resolve had gotten even stronger.
After exchanging his thoughts with Ikuta, Matthew turned to Haro with a strict face.
「... Hey, Haro...!」
She pressed down firmly on her breast when she heard him calling her… She looked ready for any admonishments. She was ready to kill herself if Matthew demanded her to die for her sins.
「............! ...… You! ...... You...!」
Matthew was trembling as he glared at Haro who was standing resolutely before him. Five minutes passed, ten minutes passed— and twice that amount of time passed in tense silence.
「............ You are really sly.」
Finally, the pudgy youth relaxed his fists. He had a face of resignation.
「That’s too scary… if you are not behind us when we are wounded on the field. Just by imagining that, my back would turn cold and sweaty, knees would weaken, and arms get heavy. Would probably vomit mom's spaghetti from being nervous… Without you on the battlefield, I don’t think I can fight like I used to.」
「...Matthew-san...」
Haro looked firmly at him. Matthew’s gaze had a strong sense of bitterness.
「Forget about the battlefield, if you didn’t speak up for me, Empress Chamille would have cut off my head in the past two years… I know, Haro, that you have been saving me. That you are supporting us from an inconspicuous position.」
Matthew felt angry and sad about this betrayal. She caused the death of many of his subordinates— Even now, he was desperately suppressing the urge to blame her.
However, those feelings were in conflict with his gratitude towards her, leaving a clearer sense of camaraderie in his heart. When he realized that, Matthew slowly composed his agitated emotions and reached a conclusion.
「... To be honest, I don’t know if I can forgive you. I can’t ignore my subordinates’ death.」
Haro closed her eyes and waited for her judgement. Matthew hung his head before her and said in a trembling voice.
「That’s to be expected. I’m their commander, and they entrust their lives to me— I can’t deflect that responsibility, and I don’t plan to do so.」
Matthew looked at his hands and thought about the lives that had slipped through his hands. And the number of lives that he would lose because of his immaturity and failure in the future.
And he was certain of one thing— to minimize those losses, he would need the power of the woman before him. He really feared the battlefield without the support of Haroma Becker. He thought about how her presence had been a salvation to him all this while.
「However, guilty or not, it won’t change the fact that you are a part of the Knights Corp.」
Matthew raised his head and said, his voice no longer trembling.
「And so— from now on, I will get to know you more seriously, listen to you more seriously, and take more initiative to chat with you. I won’t leave you alone again.
Similarly, you have to share your burden too, and I will shoulder them together with you. I have grown at least this much since we first met on that ship.」
With that, he walked over and offered his hand to Haro. Torway also stood up.
「For the past two years, I thought I have been working hard for the sake of everyone, but I didn’t pay attention to anything beside my own troubles. Haro-san, compared to Ik-kun and Ma-kun, I have no rights to blame you. I’m useless for neglecting so many things.」
Torway bit his lips, then walked to Haro and offered his hand too. His jade-coloured eyes looked at his comrade with warm determination.
「I won’t make the same mistake again. So.. Can you give me the chance to fight alongside you once more?」
The two of them offered their hands of friendship, and Haro just stood still at a loss. She knew she didn’t have the right to take their hands— and could only hold back her tears.
「... Will Yatori-san forgive me...?」
She found herself asking before she realized it. Ikuta held a hand to his chin and muttered.
「It would be hard given her position. The values of the Igsem won’t forgive your espionage activities— but I know Yatori isn’t someone who blindly follow the rules.」
Ikuta smiled, then placed a coin on his thumb. He turned to the vermillion-haired girl’s shortsword and said:
「Let’s ask her then. We will know in no time— head or tails?」
The coin was flicked up, drew an arc into the air, bounced off the sword guard and landed on the chair. Ikuta declared the result to Haro.
「See— she forgives you.」
The coin beside the shortsword showed heads. Haro picked up the coin and inspected, then smiled with tears in her eyes.
「... How sly. The coin have heads on both sides.」
「That’s right. Because she told me to use that coin.」
Ikuta said nonchalantly. A coin that was heads on both sides— He was saying that was Yatori’s answer to Haro.
Haro held the coin tightly to her chest and nodded profusely. No one felt that was a lie— Haro could even sense the vermillion-haired girl standing beside her with a smile.
「—Haro? What’s wrong, Haro?」
Her mind that was lost in her memory was pulled back to reality.
「— Your Majesty.」
She was standing blankly before the thoroughly cooked mutton. Chamille watched her from the side and asked worriedly.
「I saw that your hands had stopped moving, and seem to be lost in thought. Haro… if there’s anything worrying you, do tell me. I don’t know if I can help, but it’s better than holding it all in.」
The Empress looked at her anxiously. Her concern made Haro happy, and reminded her of the continuation of the scene that played out in her mind earlier.
— Chamille— I hope you can avoid telling her the truth.
At the end of the long discussion, Ikuta proposed that.
— She is also an important comrade. Right now, I’m doting on her very much. However, Chamille is also a child. As adults, we have to handle this situation, but she doesn't have any obligation to take responsibility for this mistake.
When she heard that, Haro understood the biggest reason for the dark-haired youth’s return to the battlefield.
— The most trusted person being a spy will make her feel more uneasy, given her complicated position. So don’t tell her for now, and keep it in our hearts— before the right moment.
In order to protect the thing most precious to him, Haro nodded with gratitude.
—Haro, I will leave the decision and timing of revealing this secret to you.
She decided to tell the truth when all the dust had settled. When the war was over, the country was stable… and when the girl had truly matured. Before that moment came, she had to continue playing the part of a gentle big sister.
「— Thank you, Your Majesty. But I’m fine, I just recalled a happy memory.」
「Is that so… That’s great.」
When she saw Haro’s firm smile, Chamille decided not to ask about the other thing weighing on her mind. As they chatted, the dishes were being done.
「Alright, I’m done here. How’s the bread?」
「Hold on. The stove is different from the norm… it’s probably not burnt.」
「The stew is almost done, I hope it will be to your liking～」
The finished dishes were served one after another. This wasn’t the rations stuffed into their mouths in a battlefield, or the food served daily in the mess, or the palace cuisine made by first class chefs. These were plain and heartwarming home dishes.
「Ohh, everything has been served. Let me sample...」
「You didn’t even help, so no snacking! Sit your ass down!」
Matthew slapped away Ikuta’s hand that was reaching for the plates. With that as the cue, everyone sat down around the dining table. The vermillion-haired girl’s shortsword was placed in one of these seats— and the dishes were also made for six.
「Ahem. Well then— things are a little off, but let’s toast to the Knights Corp’s dinner—」
「「「「Cheers!」」」」
Chamille led the toast and everyone clinked their cups filled with juice. The lively gathering just got started.
Amidst all the noise— the other person inside Haro also bashfully said 「Cheers.」
Clank! The sound of something shattering entered the ears of the woman sweeping the corridor.
「—?」
Her hands stopped, and she quickly moved to the living room where the sound came from.
「What happened, Hubby?」
She asked after entering. The man she called out to was sitting stiffly on the Bayoshie rattan chair, with a letter on his left hand and his Yaponiku ceramic tea cup shattered by his feet. How rare, she thought.
「— Oh— Sorry. How do I put this— I was a little, no, I was very shocked.」
Noticing his wife coming in, the man— Kioka Republic Prime Minister, Ario Kyakushii, finally snapped back to his senses and started to move. But his wife stopped him immediately. For the person responsible for cleaning up, it would be more help for him to stay still.
She swiftly picked up the shattered cup pieces, wiped the wet carpet with a rag. Ario then said blankly.
「Saram, have you ever experienced someone snatching your treasure away from you before?」
「Treasure, huh?」
Saram replied as she scrubbed the floor. Between this husband and wife, she wasn’t surprised by any sudden seemingly deep questions.
「... When I was little, there was one time when the other kids stepped on a sand castle I built over three days. I believed the emotions that welled up within me was very close to bloodlust.」
「I think so too. Because a part of what I’m feeling right now is probably that too.」
The man raised his head slightly. He placed the letter on his knees, then continued his monologue with his eyes opened wide, staring at the ceiling.
「I’m doubting my eyes. The talent I unearthed with my own eyes, one of the masterpieces I guided to perfection, just sent me a message that she had cracked. Ahhh— how do I describe this sense of loss. As if a hole has been dug out of my chest, as if a corner of my heart has been chipped off— with my limited prowess in literature, I can only think of such empty proses.」
Ario said with self mockery. This was a rare sight to Saram. He seldom mocked himself seriously.
「However… The heaviest emotion in my heart should be vexation. I’m vexed that she got taken away, and hate the one who took her, like a youth chasing after his first crush.
Who took the perfect maiden that I sculpted? For the bright future of Kioka, I still have many things I need her to do. Just thinking about the loss of potential breaks my heart.」
So he would lament in such a way when he really felt vexed. Saram found her husband’s attitude refreshing. She knew his personality was more complicated than others, and in terms of observing Ario Kyakushii, Saram Kyakushii was the highest authority.
「Unforgivable. This is— unforgivable.」
Saram looked at Ario who was trying to show his jealousy and hatred from different perspectives, as if he was some rare animal. But she didn’t try to console him. Her husband didn’t look unhappy either.
Whether she had any love for him in the normal sense aside— every day she spent with her companion felt very meaningful.
This was the Grand Cathedral to the far north of Kioka. In a room inside one of the spire towers of the Grand Cathedral, a man’s voice echoed loudly.
「— That concludes the report regarding the current situation of the Empire, my Pope.」
He was a buff middle aged man in military uniform, his head was shaved so clean that it reflected the sky. He was a veteran with the atmosphere of a pious priest. As for the person listening to the report— She was a petite old lady wearing extravagant priestly robes.
「Is that so… It seems this Empress is very cruel.」
「Yes. But on the whole, I can sense her deep thinking and farsight. My old bones are hoping she is a wise monarch pretending to be a tyrant.」
The man who spoke viciously to everyone would only restrain himself before this person. Accepting his display of great respect, the old lady smiled:
「Since you say so, that might just be true, General Akgarpa Sa Domeisha. The fact is, the Empire that was on the verge of falling had defied expectations and survived. I have to admit that Kioka didn’t get everything to go their way.」
After saying that, the old lady closed her eyes and fell into deep thought. After pondering under General Akgarpa’s gaze for a long while, she finally said.
「... Let’s try meeting them.」
「... Your Grace, that’s...」
「I want to speak with them face to face. Be it that Empress or the vassal supporting her. The hopeless Empire with its abandoned fields and corrupt land, might sprout a new sapling with the rise of the young generation. I want to confirm that.」
She told him in a clear voice, and added to put that man at ease:
「But it will be unwise to make Kioka suspicious… We should host a three nations conference. That’s good too, it’s been a while since I last met the 『Insomniac Brilliant General』.」
「I have complicated feelings about that brat… But if Your Grace wishes for it, it will be done.」
General Akgarpa knelt in acceptance. The old lady smiled at him, then formed a circle with her fingers before her chest.
「Work tirelessly to gather the shards of hope. Until our world that was once forsaken by god finds a bright future again.
Together with the blessings of the Four Great Sprites— Lord, please guide us.」
With the gang sign that symbolizes the stars of their patron god 【Alderamin】, she recited a scripture. General Akgarpa bowed silently with deep reverence.
The leader of the theocratic nation, La Saia Alderamin, the person at the top of its religion— Pope Jenancy Labutesuma, had a mixture of deep worry and expectations in her eyes. Reflected in her eyes was the city below, as she watched from the window of the spire tower
Two weeks after settling the issue with Haro. Ikuta and Chamille stood inside a corner of the Grand Courtyard within the Deep Green Hall, and waited.
「— The two administrative officers you recommended will be coming today right, Solork?」
The Empress confirmed with him. The youth furrowed his brows when he heard that.
「That’s right… But I feel conflicted. Is it really fine to recruit them?」
「What?」
The unexpectedly meek answer made Chamille look his way a little anxiously. Ikuta continued with a troubled face.
「After Professor fled to Kioka, there were still many 『Disciples of Anarai』 left in the Empire. There are many talents amongst them, and recruiting them as administrative officers will be great, however—」
Before he could even finish, the court’s martial officer genuflected before them and reported.
「Your Majesty— the two administrative officer candidates have just arrived.」
「Good, show them in.」
With the Empress’ permission, the martial officer turned to the Grand Courtyard entrance. Chamille watched him leave and asked.
「You said they will be great as administrative officers… and?」
「Well… All of them have weird personalities. Especially one of the candidates I found this time.」
Ikuta answered embarrassingly, which further stimulated the girl’s emotion of unease. At this moment, a man brought in by the martial officer walked boldly before her with a fearless smile.
「Twenty guards, three attendants, two martial officers— do you know you can cut down your payroll by that much?」
Before his greeting, that was the first thing that man said. When the martial officer escorting him turned pale, the man genuflected before the Empress.
「— Fufufu… Nice to meet you, Your Majesty...」
He was a youth with dark hair that reached his shoulders and had delicate facial features. The monocle on his right eye glimmered suspiciously as he introduced himself.
「I’m here on the recommendation of my junior disciple Ikuta Solork, one of the 『Disciples of Anarai』, Yorga Daimudaritsu. Pleased to meet you, fufufu...」
Yorga ended his introduction by laughing like some kind of conspirator, then continued.
「As for the proposal to reduce expenses just now. Your Majesty seems to be an excellent ruler, but there are still many ways to reduce the budget, starting with the palace maintenance fees. If you let me handle this project... Fufufufu.」
Yorga spread his arms theatrically and continued his monologue:
「When you see the results of this project, Your Majesty will then say— it’s as if a secret treasure vault was found in the palace… Fufufu… fufufufufu… fufufu guah?」
Someone smacked the back of that youth’s head with a palm, and the monocle fell off his face and rolled on the carpet. As the martial officers stood stiffly in place, the second person walked forth.
「Sorry for the wait——! I’m making my debut, jang jang jang～!」
「Ahh! My all-seeing eye of wisdom!」
Yorga chased after his monocle that was rolling on the carpet. The girl who forced him to do so said nonchalantly.
「Ohh～ it fell off again? Stop wearing that monocle, it can’t sit on your face properly. Because your facial features are shallower than normal people～」
「Shut up! This is my strategy! And you smack the back of my head knowing this would happen! This isn’t cheap, you know!? Just how many lenses do you think you have broken!?」
Yorga rubbed the monocle he picked up with a cloth and yelled. The girl ignored him and just stood haughtily, and Ikuta sighed deeply as he watched all that.
「And this is just the first meeting… The two of you are the same as always.」
「Hi～ Ikuta-nii! You seemed older now? You got rich, huh? Are we eating palace dishes today? Oh, I have another question, describe within 500 words why you think that cape looks cool!」
The girl asked a string of questions. She was wearing clothes that were easy to move in, and her demeanour showed boundless energy. Chamille who was observing all that felt some kind of danger from her, and tugged on the youth’s sleeve.
「... S-Solork, Solork...!」
「Sorry Chamille, I will get her to settle down… It’s been five years, of course I will look older. My salary has gone up, but not to the point of being ridiculously wealthy. I can make arrangements if you want to eat dishes from the palace, but don’t blame me if you get poisoned. I have to dress like someone important, that’s why I’m wearing this cape. As for whether I look cool in it, that’s subjective.」
Ikuta answered all the questions as if he was trimming away the branches, and seized the initiative when it was his turn to speak.
「Anyway, let’s stop with the questions for now. When you meet someone for the first time, you should greet them first, Malvackie.」
「You are ————wrong!」
When the youth called her name, the girl yelled agitatedly and corrected him.
「My name is Mairitsuuinvuakkyen! Who the heck is Malvackie!? If you read it in such a plain and boring way, my ancestors will pop a vein! Correct it right now, Ikuta-nii!」
「Hmm, you are nagging about how your name is pronounced again...? No matter how much we practiced, we couldn’t pronounce it correctly, that’s why we all decided to call you Malvackie, right?」
「Who knows～ I don’t remember such a thing happening! I’m a girl who lives in the moment, Mairitsuuinvuakkyen Shattouiettanyerushisukattsu! One, two, three～ say it again with me! Before everyone can pronounce it properly, I won’t let anyone go home!」
Not just her name, the girl was forcing them to remember her long family name. How should I handle this? Ikuta placed his hands on his hips.
「...Mairitsuuinvuakkyen Shattouiettanyerushisukattsu.」
The Empress said fluently, dousing the girl’s momentum in his stead. In the Grand Courtyard that had gone completely silent, Chamille looked right at the girl before her.
「The territory known for the long names of their residence and unique pronunciation— you must be from Lasukaryeta Town in the western territories. I have learned about that, but this is the first time I met someone from there.」
No one could rival her when it involves information about the Empire. Surprised by Chamille’s show of broad knowledge, the girl stared at her and asked:
「... What’s your name?」
「Chamille Kitra Katjvanmaninik. I know this is par for the course for royalty, but I seldom meet people with a name longer than mine. I have to say, you gave me a good experience.」
Chamille was relieved that they could finally communicate normally, and sunk back onto her throne. As for that girl, her eyes were sparkling with a smile.
「—Ikuta-nii, Ikuta-nii.」
「What is it?」
She spoke to his senior disciple who was in a higher elevation than her, and said while pointing at Chamille.
「This girl has a bright future.」
「Throughout the history of this nation, you are probably the first to say something like that to the Monarch.」
Ikuta retorted sarcastically, and the girl acted bashful as if she was being praised. He was struck by a strong sense of defeat, but the dark-haired youth still managed to turn to the Empress:
「That’s how it is… I feel uneasy as the one who recruited them, but they are the administrative officer candidates. In any case, Yorga is just trying to act cool, and is normally really competent. He will be a great help to the finance department. Normally.」
「Ikuta, stop repeating the word normally, normally! I get goosebumps when I hear that word, I deserve special treatment!」
「And he has a stubborn side, so just treat him gently from time to time. Well, when you see him sulking in a corner doing mental arithmetics, then cajole him a little.」
After giving a rough guide on how to deal with Yorga, Ikuta turned his gaze to the girl, and turned gloomy.
「As for Malvackie... How do I put this...」
「It’s Mairitsuuinvuakkyen!」
「... How do I put this… Even I think it’s too rash to recruit her...」
Ikuta felt the urge to ask his past self that question, then sighed as a change of pace.
「Let’s do this again— This is a 『Disciple of Anarai』 who joined later than I did, and as you can see, her sensibility and abilities are completely different from other Scientists. Skipping the details… A thin line separates her and an idiot.」
「What the heck～! You are not speaking up for me at all～!」
「Putting it in extreme terms, she is known as the strongest Scientist. And of course, 90% of that is sacacism.」
「You are not planning to help me at all, right!?」
「The 『Disciples of Anarai』 are all weirdos, but no one is as extreme as her… And that’s why I’m recruiting her. I’m a little tired, so you can hear the rest from the subject herself.」
He just switched gears, but lost his drive in no time. Ikuta dumped the task of handling this girl all on Chamille. Chamille was taken aback by the girl’s brashness, but the youth wasn’t joking about recruiting her. With her mind made up, Chamille said to the person before her.
「...Mairitsuuinvuakkyen.」
「Yes～! My name is very long, so you can just call me Vackie for short!」
「「Then let everyone do so from the very start!」」
Ikuta and Yorga retorted at the same time. Chamille did her best to maintain a serious attitude and continued:
「... Well then, Vackie. What can you do?」
Vackie placed her hands on her hips, and said confidently with her chest puffed out.
「I’m a Scientist, and Science can do anything.」
「What is this Science that you speak of?」
「The ability to analyze things.」
The moment she said that, the atmosphere around the girl changed. There was a dangerous gleam in her eyes.
「Using logic and instinct to cut away all the complications, and sort everything out properly. Logic is the rebellion against the complexity of this world, a counterpunch against its haughty facade. Since the world is difficult to understand, I will simplify it, and drag it down to a level where everyone can understand it easily and laugh at it— and I’m that invader who will commit blasphemy against it.」
Her words came forth like the waves, showing the fervour in her heart. The Empress could feel her passion and immediately realized— she was an extraordinary talent.
「I can’t forgive unfathomable problems remaining unfathomable. This is a display of the anger in my heart.」
Vackie said without any hesitation, baring her fangs like a predator that was mimicking a human.
「Even more so for a country. If I don’t cut open the country, my fury won’t be appeased. So— if you leave it to me, the results will be astonishing. All the complex problems will disappear. The mind boggling issues will vanish with my categorization.」
The fire in the girl’s eyes was now beyond passion and ambition, and reached the realm of insanity. On the other hand— when Ikuta saw Vackie’s display of madness, Ikuta remembered the reason he recruited her.
「I will get started then. It should be here— the problems that had twisted beyond recognition from the passage of time, that no one can ever solve!」
This was a strong dose of medicine. He understood the power and danger involved, which was exactly the reason he recruited his junior disciple to the palace.
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