Through their masks, the councillors gazed dumbfounded at the sight of Kojou continuing to laugh.
“So that’s it, La Folia… So that’s how it is… I didn’t need to ‘negotiate’ in the first place.”
“You will refrain from unclear remarks, Fourth Primogenitor…!”
One of the councillors spoke in a vivid display of irritation.
“Yeah, sorry.” The corners of Kojou’s lips were still curled up through the apology. “Incidentally, I have a question… On this Garden of Whispers Council, it’s only the vampire primogenitors who are given veto rights?”
“…That is a fact,” a masked councillor spoke gravely.
“Based on the provisions in the Holy Ground Treaty, the vampire primogenitors have been granted the right of veto for debates concerning crucial matters.”
“Well, then,” said Kojou, nodding with satisfaction. “That makes this simple. I’m exercising my veto on the attack against Itogami Island…as a vampire primogenitor.”
“What…?”
Murmurs arose. The air inside the garden shifted. He did not hear an instant rebuttal like those he had heard up to that moment. Kojou’s instantaneous idea had caught them by surprise.
“…I see. So that is your card, Kojou Akatsuki.”
One of the councillors seated at the round table broke into laughter that sounded almost like a hee-hee. Somehow, even while maintaining pronounced dignity, the laughing voice sounded…playful.
Without warning, she removed her silver mask. Light-green, almost emerald, hair flowed down her shoulders. Her large eyes were like deep lakes of jade. She was a beautiful girl, lovely yet powerful, reminiscent of a wild leopard.
“Giada… Right, you’re one of the standing members…!” Kojou exclaimed.
This was the Third Primogenitor, she who ruled the Chaos Zone, a Dominion of Central America—Giada Kukulkin. One of the three primogenitors proper, she grinned at Kojou in amusement.
“Certainly, the provisions of the Holy Ground Treaty stipulate that only the vampire primogenitors hold veto rights. Nowhere is it written that the primogenitors number only three. Accordingly, the matter is quite clear.”
Giada giggled, her eyes narrowing. The murmurs within the garden grew larger still.
“Then—”
“But we cannot accept this, Kojou Akatsuki. You are yet unworthy of claiming the mantle of fourth primogenitor.”
“I’m…not enough…?”
Giada said to Kojou, “He who would call himself primogenitor must rule a Dominion of his own. However, you have no territory, do you?” she provoked.
Kojou groaned, clenching both fists. Of course, Kojou, no more than a high schooler on paper, could not possibly have his own territory. That went without saying. Giada surely knew as much. So why? thought Kojou. What’s the reason for that expression? It’s like she’s testing me some—
“Territory, huh…? I have a territory.”
Concealing his doubts, Kojou opened his mouth.
Giada raised an eyebrow. “And where is it?”
“Whaddaya think I came here for? Itogami Island is my territory.”
“Hmmm.”
Giada’s smile deepened. Kojou could not look away from her.
“The Japanese government relinquished its territorial rights on Itogami Island as a member of the HGTO, right? Then there’s no one to complain about me taking it over.”
“Even if ’twere so, what of the Legacy of Cain?”
“If you see that as part of Itogami Island, then I’m taking it, too, of course. The Priestess of Cain is one of my people.”
“Certainly, it is you who protected the Dragon of the Swamp, Guardian of the Legacy, from Aradahl. The logic is workable.”
Giada’s eyes gently narrowed. The remaining eleven councillors listened to the exchange between her and Kojou without a word. This time, if Kojou showed a single opening, the councillors, Giada included, would no doubt remove him from the garden. Kojou appreciated anew just how much weight Giada’s words carried as a primogenitor.
“However, you do not rule that island in actuality, do you?”
That same Giada nonchalantly pointed that out. Kojou gasped, eyes widening.
“In other words, if I kick Vattler out of Itogami Island, you’ll acknowledge me as a primogenitor?”
“’Tis because Itogami Island is the altar for The Cleansing that we view it as dangerous. Should you defeat Vattler, he who has seized The Cleansing for himself, we shall have no reason to fear Itogami Island any longer.”
There was venom in Giada’s grin as she spoke those words.
Aradahl had said to “offer terms that please the primogenitors.” This meant a fight between Kojou, the Fourth Primogenitor, and Vattler, who’d obtained the power of The Cleansing. This truly was something primogenitors with too much time on their hands wanted to see.
And Kojou was destined to fight Vattler either way.
Vattler had made use of the Legacy of Cain, forced HGTO Military troops to withdraw, and was trying to start a war. As long as he remained, Itogami Island would never be at peace.
“The menace of The Cleansing being eliminated without the depletion of our own troops is a benefit to the HGTO. I believe there is room to consider the Fourth Primogenitor’s request. What say you?” Giada posed the question to the eleven councillors.
“…We assent to your terms.”
Voices rose one after another from the round table. They had no reason to reject Giada’s proposal, either.
“The HGTO Military has already begun combat maneuvers. It cannot leisurely wait for the Fourth Primogenitor to seize the right to rule Itogami Island.”
“The multinational armada shall commence its attack on Itogami Island twelve hours hence. Only if effective rule is obtained over Itogami Island within that time shall we recognize the Fourth Primogenitor’s right of veto.”
“So a grace period of twelve hours to send Vattler packing.”
Kojou surveyed the masked councillors as he bared his small fangs.
“Works for me.”
3
The Legacy of Cain was an artificial isle composed of over six hundred individual modules.
The size of an individual module was exactly the same size as one of the gigafloats comprising Itogami Island. These were leisurely connected together, spreading out like a spiral as they surrounded Itogami Island proper.
About 10 percent of the over six hundred individual modules contained walls with defensive capabilities and gun emplacements. Roughly 20 percent contained hangars for Nalakuvera and support facilities thereof. The remaining 70 percent was simply a city—a ruined city that had lost its inhabitants. It strongly resembled the interior of a giant spaceship from an old-fashioned movie.
Asagi Aiba was leisurely observing the ruined city’s skyline from her cabin on the Oceanus Grave II.
“Li’l miss, you have a message.”
Via her beloved smartphone, Mogwai spoke with his usual sardonic tone.
“From the HGTO? What do they want now? Begging for their lives or something?”
Asagi listlessly rose to her feet, posing the question to her partner AI. It was just before noon. By rights, it was right around when the HGTO Military ought to have been starting a full-scale attack.
However, for some reason, Mogwai seemed to deliberately bring a grave look over his face.
“Nahhh. The message sender calls himself the Fourth Primogenitor.”
“Whaaat?”
Asagi gazed at the badly sewn teddy bear on the screen with visible bewilderment.
“Fourth Primogenitor…you mean Kojou? Why is he using this line?”
“So what’s my man Kojou saying?” asked Motoki Yaze, who’d just had a leftover pizza slice in hand and licked his greasy fingers. He’d come to negotiate with Asagi, acting as the representative for the Gigafloat Management Corporation.
Asagi’s brow furled as her eyes fell to the smartphone’s screen.
“…It says ‘Itogami Island and the artificial isle present in the sea around it have been recognized by the Holy Ground Treaty Organization as the territory of the Fourth Primogenitor. Hereafter, all those engaged in illegal occupation thereof are to lay down their arms, surrender, and immediately forfeit all territorial rights…’ Huuuh?!”
“‘If these demands are not met, they shall be eliminated by force,’ huh… This is a declaration of war. In other words, a final ultimatum.”
Mogwai cackled.
For her part, Asagi’s face was tinged bright red with anger.
“Wh…wh…what is that idiot thinking?! What the hell does he think we started all of this for…?!”
“Mmm… This changes the course of events, though,” Yaze said calmly, trying to soothe the indignant Asagi.
As Yaze munched on more pizza, Asagi shot him a questioning glare.
“What do you mean?”
“If Kojou defeats you folks—or Dimitrie Vattler, rather, at the very least it avoids a war. Itogami Island won’t be destroyed, and the HGTO non-signatory nations won’t butt in, either. I don’t think these are bad terms, but—”
“Then all of this will be meaningless!”
Asagi violently slammed the table. She exhaled raggedly, like a mountain lion with her fur on end. Yaze’s eyes bulged at the sight of his childhood friend emotional like never before.
Ignoring him, Asagi turned back to her smartphone.
“Mogwai, this information, has Mr. Vattler—?”
“Of course I have heard.”
Asagi, hearing that invigorated voice from the hallway, muttered “Oh, crap” as she clutched her head. The door to the cabin opened wide, and a young, blond aristocrat emerged with a smile full of satisfaction.
“The order of events is slightly off schedule, but if anything, this more convenient. After all, I thought it more difficult to make Kojou minded to fight. I shall give an attack from his side a warm welcome.”
Vattler, acting like he couldn’t be more pleased, spoke with vigor in his voice.
Though he had engaged in a variety of schemes to stir up a large war, Vattler’s motivation for his actions was very simple. He craved a battle with a powerful foe; that was all.
That said, as events would have it, Vattler was also a person on the side of protecting Itogami Island. The odds of Kojou, standing in an identical position, directly confronting him were low. Through some unexpected development, it was Kojou launching an attack. Small wonder Vattler was pleased.
“If you defeat Kojou, the chances of stopping the war go poof, though.”
“I suppose they do…”
When Yaze spread both arms and tossed out that line, Vattler nodded, amused.
Asagi glared at the young blond aristocrat. “I have no intention of helping you fight Kojou.”
“Of course, that’s not a problem. I have long awaited an enjoyable bloodbath with the Fourth Primogenitor. Using something crude such as The Cleansing would spoil all the fun.”
“Oh, really now?”
Speaking her words in a frigid tone, Asagi picked up her favorite laptop.
Yaze looked up at Asagi with a visible twinge of unease. “…A-Asagi?”
“I’m heading out. I’m going to convince Kojou to join our side. Got it?”
“Do as you please. Kojou and I fighting the three Primogenitors shoulder to shoulder is a most attractive proposal. I eagerly await the results of your overture.”
Vattler was as theatrical as ever. Asagi sourly let out her breath before leaving the cabin in silence.
“Now then, what do you intend to do, Mr. New President Yaze?” Vattler asked with a grin.
“You can ask me that all you like, but I’m just an observer.” Yaze shrugged.
Yume and Lydianne were on standby outside the ship, on guard against the multinational fleet’s attack. Yuiri and Shio had been freed with Glenda, whose role had already come to an end. Yaze and Vattler were the only two people left in the cabin. It was meaningless to hide his status any longer.
“I wonder. Is it not you who joined hands with the Chaos Bride, working with her behind the scenes?”
Vattler’s blue eyes cruelly stared at Yaze, who smiled casually and shook his head.
“You’re overestimating me. Like a proper observer, I’m gonna shut up and watch to the bitter end.”
4
When he opened his eyes, Kojou was in the study once more.
The metal manacles were off his wrists; the magical symbols had lost their glow. The mist surrounding him lifted. Kojou waited for his dizziness to settle down before standing up from the uncomfortable chair resembling some kind of torture device.
Aradahl was folding both arms in silence. In contrast, for some reason, La Folia was in a very good mood, smiling at Kojou.
“—You negotiated splendidly, Kojou. This is why I have marked you as my future spouse.”
“Don’t go marking without asking. Oh, um, the advice you gave me did help, though…”
Apparently, the scene Kojou saw had been conveyed to the princess and the others while they’d been surrounded in mist. Kojou himself had felt the presence of La Folia and company near to him. Had he not, Kojou probably could have never moved forward with negotiations so calmly under those circumstances. The councillors he’d met at the Garden of Whispers were simply that overwhelming.
It wasn’t just the three primogenitors; the other nine had considerable power of their own. Thinking back upon it, successfully negotiating with them as an equal seemed nigh miraculous.
“All that remains is to seize control of the Legacy of Cain from the Duke of Ardeal. Tee-hee… Once Kojou becomes king of a nation in name and fact, my father can hardly object…”
“You still haven’t forgotten that talk…?!”
Kojou’s face twitched.
He’d completely forgotten about it, but the first time Kojou had met La Folia, she’d pursued him for marriage. Her stated reason, and really, not a very good one, was that her doting father was likely to resist letting go of her at all. Of course, given that this was La Folia, chances were good that she was up to her usual pranks, but she was a frightening girl when she was serious.
Aradahl, ignorant of those circumstances, turned a questioning look Kojou’s way.
Heedless of Kojou and Aradahl being thrown askew, La Folia spoke behind her without turning her head.
“Justina, send a message to the Böðvildr. From this moment forward, my Aldegian Knights of the Second Coming shall assault the Oceanus Grave II in support of Kojou Akatsuki, Lord of an allied nation. Order all captains to prepare the knights and ready for combat with all available speed.”
“As you command.”
Kataya Justina, invisible due to magical camouflage, suddenly appeared as she replied.
Nervously listening to this exchange was Sayaka, waiting just outside the study.
“P-Princess…? Don’t tell me you intend to personally participate in combat…?!”
“Such is my duty. I am a crown princess of Aldegia, blessed by the Spirits. I shall carry my royal name onto the battlefield.”
After speaking this in a tone filled with majesty, La Folia spoke to herself, seemingly as an afterthought.
“—Besides, it is far too entertaining to pass up, is it not?”
“That’s the real reason, isn’t it…?!” Sayaka shouted in a shrill voice. “You mustn’t! Princess, as Shamanic War Dancer of the Lion King Agency, I have been ordered by the government of Japan to escort you. I absolutely cannot accept such dangerous action!”
“But you see, Sayaka. The government of Japan has relinquished its territorial rights over Itogami Island. In other words, I am not presently in Japan, so you do not have any right to give me orders, do you?”
“W…well…”
La Folia’s airtight logic left Sayaka lacking any words for a rebuttal. The silver-haired princess posed another question to hammer the idea in further.
&n
bsp; “Besides that,” La Folia said, shifting her attention, “Yukina, as Kojou’s watcher, you intend to accompany him in battle against the Duke of Ardeal?”
“Yes,” said the latter, as if the answer was obvious. Sayaka’s voice caught in her throat. To her, La Folia flashed a seductive smile.
“In other words, by coming with me and continuing your escort mission on the battlefield, it is possible for you to give Yukina aid. Or will you refuse to accept my going into battle even still?”
“B…by any chance, did you designate me to be your escort because you expected this to happen from the…?”
“Tee-hee. You will protect me and keep me safe, won’t you, Sayaka?”
“Haaah…”
Being on the receiving end of La Folia’s innocent smile, Sayaka sighed at length and nodded. She was considered a blackhearted, scheming princess for her negotiation skills in the first place; there was no way Sayaka could dissuade her. La Folia won by a mile, just as Kojou had expected.
Seeing that Sayaka was silent, the princess next called out to the female knight behind her.
“Justina, give it to Yukina.”
“Yes. Lady Sword Shaman, please take this.”
Upon receiving her liege’s command, she reverentially tendered a case in front of Yukina. It was a military carry case about the size of a schoolbag.
“Um…what is this?” The sudden gift from the female knight brought a perplexed look over Yukina.
“If I may be so bold, it is something I provisioned on my own, arbitrary judgment. I originally prepared it for Her Highness the Royal Sister, but I thought it would be fairly inconvenient for her—please!”
“Th…thank you very much. I shall take it…… I shall take it, so please stop kneeling!”
Overwhelmed by the female knight’s prostrate earnestness, Yukina took the case. Justina bowed deeply to her.
“Well then, Kojou—I am pleased to go fight alongside you once more.” Acting very much as the elegant princess she was, La Folia grasped the hem of her short skirt and beamed at him. “Let us meet again on the battlefield.”
A War of Primogenitors Page 21