by Dojyomaru
“Are you saying you’ll do that, Fuuga?” I asked with a tense expression.
Fuuga thumped his chest with one hand. “Yeah! In this day and age, who else but me can?! The fact is, I’ve already done it on the steppe. My father brought the steppes together as one, but I made those people who still conspired to kill him submit to me as a warrior. Now, everyone on the steppe has high hopes for me.”
Conspiring to kill his father. The report from the Black Cats hadn’t been able to determine whether Fuuga’s father, Raiga Haan, had been killed by illness or poison, but... it seemed Fuuga interpreted it as an assassination.
“Look at the times we’re in. ‘Strength’ can be just as powerful a banner as the ‘ideals’ the saint carries.”
Then Fuuga pointed down at the ground.
“The Union of Eastern Nations is now full of refugees who escaped the north. Each country handles them in their own way, but I’m sure, under the current situation, the refugees have their reasons to be discontent in each of them. If even a small portion of the Demon Lord’s Domain could be liberated, they would see in me the hope that their homelands might be liberated, and they’d rush to my side. It’s not only the refugees who want to see the Demon Lord’s Domain liberated, either. The soldiers and farmers who want land, the merchants and craftspeople who want products, and the petty rulers who want to expand their holdings will all ride that wave.”
Fuuga went on to describe his imagined blueprint. There were parts of it that seemed unrealistic, but I had a strange premonition that Fuuga might just be able to pull it off. If people felt the way Fuuga said they would... it might well become “hope” for them.
“But will it be that simple?” I asked. “Even at its height, the Empire failed in its invasion of the Demon Lord’s Domain.”
“I know that. But there’s something I’m convinced of.”
“Something you’re convinced of?” I parroted back questioningly.
Fuuga gave me a firm nod. “They say the allied force led by the Empire wasn’t defeated by monsters, but by demons. And the demons only exist deep inside the Demon Lord’s Domain.”
I was shocked. The demons only existed deep inside the Demon Lord’s Domain?
“...On what basis do you say that?”
“I went into the Demon Lord’s Domain out of curiosity, but despite frequently being attacked by monsters, I never encountered a single demon. I went in pretty deep, too. That means the demons aren’t spread out over the whole of the Demon Lord’s Domain.”
“...” I was speechless. I felt as though Fuuga’s conjecture was on the mark.
Fuuga likely didn’t know, but I had already shared my theory that “Monsters are to demons as animals are to humans” with the Empire. If these demons couldn’t communicate with the monsters, they might see them as dangerous beasts, the same way as we did.
If the demons were wary of monsters, rather than dividing up their forces, wouldn’t they make large colonies to protect their children and such from attacks?
If it was true, it made sense why the allied forces led by the Empire had made good progress at first. Basically, the alliance had gone too deep into the Demon Lord’s Domain, and perhaps they encountered a demon colony. Then they had attacked the monsters and demons without discriminating between them...
In other words, the extermination of harmful beasts had escalated into an all-out war.
“Urgh...” I grasped my head as I was struck by a headache.
Naden telepathically expressed her worry in a small voice. “Hold on, Souma, are you okay?”
I told her it was all right, but inside, I didn’t think it was all right at all. There was too much to think about. I wanted to talk with Maria as soon as possible.
With no sign that he noticed, Fuuga went on talking. “That’s why I think it’s possible to retake a part of the Demon Lord’s Domain. I’ll use that accomplishment to get public opinion inside the union on my side, and create the opportunity for unification. I’ll crush all who oppose me, force the uncooperative to submit with power, smash all the worthless bonds holding us back, and make this country one.”
“You intend to do all of that yourself?”
“I said it, didn’t I? If not me, who?!” Fuuga seemed full of confidence.
That incredible imagination and determination... This man was clearly in a different dimension than anyone else.
What had made this man, without question, was the tension in this country, and the wishes of the people to break free of it. He was the embodiment of people’s hopes.
“Do you have any idea how much blood will flow?” I asked. “This is a path of carnage you plan to walk.”
“I don’t care! Life is brief. Even the long-lived races die when their time comes. Therefore, it’s a man’s greatest wish to accomplish something great that future generations will remember!”
...Yeah, there was no questioning it now.
This man was trying to become what Maria had rejected becoming.
He was a being that grew feeding on people’s hopes, becoming something greater than human in the process.
He wanted to become the “great man” of this era.
Whenever an era came to a stalemate, great people would appear as if responding to the people’s wishes.
Ying Zheng of Qin (Qin Shi Huang), Oda Nobunaga, Napoleon... The great men who appeared to break out of an interminable situation were always violent in their destruction of the values held up until that time, and they tried to build a new world atop the ruins of the old. Many who were praised for their great deeds in later generations were seen as nothing more than slaughterers by the people of the time.
I saw the potential to become that sort of great man in Fuuga.
In this confused era with the Demon Lord’s Domain in the north, the people were seeking a vessel into which they could pour their hopes. I was wasting the label of “hero,” and Maria had the capacity to be a “saint.” However, we had rejected becoming something larger than human, so that vessel had not yet appeared.
But what about Fuuga? If the people looked for Fuuga to become a “great man,” wouldn’t Fuuga become one without hesitation?
Then, with the people’s hopes behind him, wouldn’t he try to become the hegemon of this era?
When I get home... I need to tell Maria.
I need to tell her to beware Fuuga Haan of the Union of Eastern Nations.
If this man truly rose, even the strongest of mankind’s nations was at risk.
And so, I myself made careful note of Fuuga Haan’s name as the person I most needed to be concerned about from now on.
Chapter 5: Idioms Change in Meaning
That night.
There was a celebration being held in Wedan to celebrate the victory against the demon wave.
However, unlike in the Kingdom of Lastania, it wasn’t a wild affair with singing and drinking.
Because the people gathered were the central figures of the Union of Eastern Nations, it was probably to be expected that no one felt much like letting loose.
On the surface, they all appeared to be praising each other and making small talk, but they were actually gathering information on the other countries.
They had come as reinforcements, so many wore armor, but it felt like I had been called to one of the nobles’ nighttime gatherings. In fact, the big shots who wanted to form cordial relations with our country had been coming over to give their regards one after another, so we were already a little sick of it.
“I thought a victory party would be more fun,” Naden griped from beside me, looking exhausted.
“Now, now, this is an important duty of ours, too,” Aisha said, trying to console her. She was standing on the opposite side of me.
I looked over at Juna, who was also by my side. “You aren’t tired, Juna?”
“I’m used to it, so I’m fine. Please, leave the deterrence duties to me.”
I was standing arm-in-arm with Juna, who wore a blu
e dress she said she had received from Excel. And with Naden in her black dress and Aisha in a cocktail dress also next to me, I was here at this party with an iron wall. By showing off that I already had them as my partners, they were acting to deter the heads of other countries from bringing up talk of marriage with me.
We were sort of the largest of all the countries gathered here, so few would go so far as to risk offending our future queens by bringing up that subject. Especially in the presence of Juna, a woman who was beautiful and brimming with feminine charm.
Over and over, I’d seen lords who might bring up the subject take one look at her, decide it was hopeless, and dodge the issue with idle banter before beating a hasty retreat.
“They keep saying, ‘What a lovely bunch of ladies’ about us,” Juna said with a smile.
“They must have had trouble coming up with any other subject on the spur of the moment,” I said. “Well, given they were able to see how lovely you look in that dress, Juna, I’m sure that was enough.”
“Hee hee, I love it when you compliment me, sire.”
“Hold on, Souma! Could you actually look at us, too?!” Naden protested.
“I feel as though it’s been some time since I’ve dressed this way, too,” Aisha agreed.
“Naden, Aisha, you both look very lovely, too,” I told them.
They both smiled in satisfaction.
By the way, Naden’s dress was the black one made of her own scales that she’d worn when we’d danced in the Star Dragon Mountain Range, and Aisha’s cocktail dress was the one she’d worn as a presenter on the Jewel Voice Broadcast. I’d had her pack it just in case.
Then Naden pulled at the hem of her dress, letting out a sigh as she did. “It’s exhausting dressing like this, though, you know? Every time someone comes, I have to be on edge.”
“You can rest, you know, Madam Naden,” Aisha said, looking concerned. “I am more than capable of protecting His Majesty by myself.”
“I don’t want to.” Naden rejected the offer. “If I do, the people here will only recognize you and Juna as Souma’s partners. I’m his partner, too, okay?”
Then Naden hugged my arm tight.
Maybe that was what instigated Juna to tighten her grip and squish herself against my arm...
Don’t think too much about the difference in wording there.
Feeling a little peeved, Aisha said, “It’s not fair that only you two get to nuzzle up to him! If it’s a nuisance, please leave the task to me! Lady Liscia has asked me to take care of His Majesty.”
“I’ve been asked to do the same!” Naden shot back. “Besides, a dragon and her knight are of one body, one mind!”
“Madam Naden, you do realize you are not a dragon, and His Majesty is not a knight, yes?”
Fireworks flew between the two of them. I had to worry about how this looked to those around us, so maybe it was time to stop them.
“Um, you two, you don’t need to compete over this...”
““Please be quiet, Souma/sire!””
“Uh, sure...”
While I was being intimidated by the two of them, Yuriga looked exasperated. “Are you really a king?”
That reminded me that Tomoe, Ichiha, and Yuriga, the three kids, were here, too.
She’d caught us in the middle of an embarrassing scene, so I tried to change the subject by asking, “Don’t you need to be with your brother, Fuuga?”
“Even if I were with my brother, it’s all adult men there. It’s boring. I’d prefer to stay here with Tomoe and Ichiha.”
“Mrrgh,” Tomoe muttered. “Don’t you have any friends, Yuriga?”
Yuriga’s face froze.
Oh... She’d hit the nail on the head.
With a clearly pasted on smile, Yuriga reached out for Tomoe’s face and pinched her cheeks. “Wh-What exactly do you think you’re saying?! You squirt.”
“Hyau?! Hyohhyoh, hyahehehyoh.”
“P-Please, stop that, Yuriga.” Ichiha hastily got in between them and peeled them apart.
Yuriga crossed her arms and looked away peevishly with her cheeks puffed up in anger. It only made her look like she was trying to act tough.
“It’s fine! No one sees me as anything other than my brother’s little sister! The adults are always watching to see how my brother will react and kissing up to him, too!”
...Oh, now it made sense.
For this girl, Fuuga was a source of pride, but she also had a complex about him.
In a group of siblings, if one was especially talented, it was only natural such feelings would arise. It sounded like Ichiha had been looked down upon compared to his capable brothers and sisters, too.
For Yuriga in particular, she was at a sensitive age, so maybe her usual prickly attitude was the other side of those feelings.
In other words...
“You’re being spoiled by Tomoe because she pays attention to you, huh,” I commented.
“Who’d you say’s being spoiled by this little squirt?!”
“Y-You wanted me to spoil you?” Tomoe asked gingerly. “Should I pat you on the head?”
“Wahhhh, you don’t have to do that!”
The children went on making a ruckus.
Yuriga would never admit it, but I felt like Tomoe and Ichiha were bringing out the closest thing to her true personality. These three might make better friends than I would have thought.
As I was reflecting on that, the time came.
“Ahem! Ladies and gentlemen. I know we are in the middle of our banquet, but could I ask you to listen to me for a moment?”
Duke Chima was standing on a platform prepared for the occasion.
Behind him, six young men and women stood in a line. Mutsumi was one of them.
“Now then, as I have promised before, I will announce the countries to which my children will be sent as a show of gratitude for dispatching reinforcements,” Duke Chima announced loudly from the platform.
That presumably meant the six up on the stage were the six Chima brothers and sisters who were included in the reward. The six excluded the eldest of the siblings, who was the heir, and Ichiha, the youngest brother.
If I recalled, they were:
Nata (Age 22) — Second Son: Muscular man who wielded a giant ax.
Mutsumi (Age 20) — Eldest Daughter: Beautiful, with excellent martial abilities and ingenuity.
Gauche (Age 18) — Third Son: The best archer in the world.
Yomi (Age 17) — Second Daughter: Elder twin sister, avid reader with a wealth of knowledge.
Sami (Age 17) — Third Daughter: Younger twin sister, with a gift for accounting and a talent for mental arithmetic.
Nike (Age 16) — Fourth Son: Beautiful boy, whose spear moved faster than the eye could follow.
Being from the same family as Madam Mutsumi and Ichiha, they were all beautiful.
On top of that, each had a superior talent, so I could understand why all these countries wanted them as brides, or grooms, or retainers. I could understand, but... even so, there was no person among them that I desperately wanted for myself. No, not among them.
Well, having been the last to get here, it had little to do with us.
Or so I thought, but... I felt like I’d suddenly made eye contact with Duke Chima up on the platform. I had a bad feeling about this, and it quickly proved to be true.
Duke Chima looked at me as he said, “In regards to the selection process, I would like the countries to choose in the order of largest contribution. Thus, the one whose country had the largest force, and slew the most monsters, must be this gentleman here. The King of Friedonia, Sir Souma Kazuya!”
The moment he said that, all eyes focused on us.
Their glances were a mix of resignation, interest, and envy. I had effectively come last only to take the best part, so that may have been to be expected.
Aw, damn it... He just had to do this...
I was sure Duke Chima wanted a link to a prominent country, no matter w
hat it took.
Naturally, as the most powerful country here, he was going to want a line of contact with us. That was probably why he’d given us first place.
For my part, I wanted to avoid standing out here, and to quietly achieve my objective afterward, but now he’d made it a hassle.
Then I felt an especially sharp pair of eyes on me.
Wha?!
Juna and Naden let go of the arms they were wrapped around, and Aisha positioned herself so as to protect me from that stare.
When I looked past Aisha in the direction I had felt it from, there was Fuuga.
He was looking straight at me with no expression. Those eyes said, If you’re planning to choose Young Miss Mutsumi, be prepared.
If I were to tease him by saying I wanted Madam Mutsumi now, Fuuga would probably decide I was an enemy.
In The Prince, Machiavelli said people will soon forget injuries against themselves, but they will never forget injury to their property or women.
If I did something like steal Madam Mutsumi, Fuuga would no doubt come to steal her back, even if it meant war with the Kingdom of Friedonia. Like King Agamemnon, invading and destroying Troy to take back his younger brother’s beautiful wife, Helen.
I have no intent of creating a source of strife with Fuuga, but...
Was that man this true to his desires?
If he wanted something, he’d do anything to attain it. That position was terrifying.
I turned to Duke Chima and bowed a little before silently shaking my head.
“It’s a kind offer, but I’ll have to decline.”
“S-Say what?!”
“We of the Kingdom of Friedonia were late to arrive, and our contributions are not equal to those who have fought long and hard here. I ask you to please give the reward to somebody else.”
When I said that, a clear feeling of relief flowed through the room.
That was because the number of slots for rewards hadn’t decreased, I’m sure. From here and there, I heard things like...
“A wonderful show of consideration.”
“It seems the new King of Friedonia is sensible.”