Chapter 0632 Joint Conference of the Eastern Countries
-x-X-x-
The moment Ryo heard it, he bolted out.
Abel followed.
Ryo leapt down the stairs from the third floor, where the conference room was, all the way to the first floor in a single bound.
"No way!"
Abel shouted as he chased after him.
At the instant before he slammed into the first-floor landing, the Flight Ring he wore on his left arm gave off a pale glow, and a gust of wind blasted toward the ground.
It didn't leave him unscathed, of course, but on landing, he spun once, converting his linear kinetic energy into rotational motion to dissipate it.
Because of that, Abel was able to burst out of the front entrance almost without leaving Ryo's side.
What met them outside was a truly grisly sight.
Hundreds of bodies lay scattered across the ground.
Talismans floated around a single carriage, as if shielding it.
In front of the carriage stood a man.
His pale purple ceremonial robes were the formal wear of the grand duke's younger brother.
His long black hair was tightly tied up and secured with a small crown that gave off a faint violet gleam.
Under normal circumstances, his face might be called handsome, but not now.
Cold.
If a single kanji could sum him up, it would be 'cold'.
No emotion showed on his face — everything was proceeding exactly as expected, but with an air of displeasure… as if he were saying that without speaking.
Anyone who saw that scene would understand immediately.
Grand Duke Atinjo had been the target of the attack, but it had been completely foiled.
And the one who had stopped it was this man in purple.
Naturally.
He was one of the Ten Masters of the Southern Church of Sorcery… effectively the strongest of sorcerers.
The most formidable shield that protected his beloved older brother, Grand Duke Atinjo.
"Duke Helb…"
The name slipped from Abel's lips before he could stop it, and for a moment it was as if time itself had moved.
"Ah, Abel-dono, Ryo-dono. I apologise for the worry."
Helb's voice and expression returned to their usual composure.
"Well, of course. You'd expect to leave your best trump card at the likely point of attack if you were anticipating an assault."
Ryo let out a small sigh.
"No one expected something like this to actually happen. I couldn't help but counterattack with all my strength… but it couldn't be helped. After all, whoever draws a bow on a grand duke leaves no alternative but the severest punishment."
Helb said it almost refreshingly, as if stating the obvious.
For him, this attack was likely a trifling matter.
There were several rebels and troublemakers — it's simplest to deal with them all at once.
That was apparently how he saw it.
Helb straightened his clothing lightly, opened the carriage door, and said to the person inside,
"Brother, everything is in order."
Then he fully opened the door.
A man descended slowly from the carriage.
Hair that must once have been black had turned completely white, though it was carefully tied up and fixed with a small golden crown.
His skin had no lustre; at first glance, he looked like a seriously ill man.
But his gaze was sharp.
His willpower was so intense that it could not be fully suppressed even if attempted.
The white hair stood out against the dark blue grand ducal formalwear, but once one met his face, all other features were forgotten by the force of his eyes.
That man was Grand Duke Atinjo.
Ryo and Abel watched as Grand Duke Atinjo and Duke Helb entered the council hall through the main entrance.
"Wasn't there a document that said the grand duke and Duke Helb are fifteen years apart?"
"Yes. But still… Grand Duke Atinjo looks aged, doesn't he?"
"He does. He looks about seventy."
"But his gaze is sharp."
"That's true. Compared to everything else, it stands out even more."
Both of them had a vague understanding.
He probably looked aged because he resisted being possessed by the phantom king or similar things every day.
Once they confirmed that Grand Duke Atinjo and Duke Helb had gone inside, Ryo and Abel also passed through the entrance.
"Helb really shows no mercy, huh. How many died out front?"
"Well, that's probably why he let it play out. Let them attack, then wipe them out in one fell swoop. Helb's not the kind to go easy."
"That's true… terrorism accomplishes nothing, but getting wiped out in return doesn't accomplish anything either."
Ryo said that and gave a small shake of his head.
Abel shrugged and said nothing.
He didn't fully grasp the meaning of the word 'terrorism' yet.
"I hope the conference goes smoothly."
"Out of the blue, huh?"
Ryo murmured, and Abel tilted his head in question.
"In my homeland, there's a famous saying: 'The congress dances, yet neither proceeds'."
"What's that supposed to mean? Why would a meeting dance?"
"Well, they do hold proper meetings during the day, you see. But nothing gets decided… and then at night there's a ball. Everyone looks so happy dancing there."
"Why would they do that…?"
It was a remark that mocked the post-Napoleonic Congress of Vienna.
The conference had gathered the major rulers and monarchs of Europe… but due to various factors, the meetings dragged on endlessly.
Partly by design of Chancellor Metternich of Austria, who presided over it, the talks were intentionally prolonged…
"That conference brought together scores of monarchs, and it took about nine months to conclude the treaties. If this one goes the same way…"
"They can't leave their countries unattended for that long."
Abel frowned.
Ryo saw that and thought about it.
He had the impression Abel had been away from the kingdom for a long time… but he refrained from saying it aloud.
Neither had left the country willingly.
It was all the fault of the Djinn.
"Well, I've been away from the kingdom a long time too."
"You really had to say that…?"
Abel muttered, and Ryo sighed.
"And here I was trying not to say it."
"Well, the kingdom is fine while I'm gone. I've capable retainers."
"Well, I can't deny that."
Having people you could leave things to with confidence was actually quite rare.
"By the way, in that roundtable earlier, Bol wasn't there, was he?"
"Bol… I vaguely recall… Ah — the country that had its ship attacked by the ghost ship Ruri. Captain Gorick of the Lone Dark mentioned it. It's an island nation, right?"
"That's it. Maybe they were considered too far away."
"Probably. Besides, I don't think very small countries were invited. Even on the continent, there are small states, but it looked like only those we've heard of were present."
"That's true. From the archipelago region, only the Komakyuta Principality and the Suje Kingdom — both known as major powers — were invited."
By necessity, they had probably invited only countries with a certain level of national strength.
Small states would be troubled if invited.
"It's not discrimination."
"No, of course not."
"Think of the obligations that come with attending — just being invited is a burden. Attending this conference costs money. All of it is paid for by the taxes of the people."
"For a small state, that could be a sizable expense."
"It's not the same as two people who rode Darwei's ship here with three meals and naps included, taking a free ride without paying."
"I'm curious what kind of feelings you have saying that line yourself."
Both Ryo and Abel were being provided food… and more than that, for free.
When the two of them returned to the conference room, every seat except four was filled.
Two seats for Ryo and Abel representing the Knightley Kingdom.
Two seats for Grand Duke Atinjo and Duke Helb representing the Grand Duchy of Atinjo.
When Ryo and Abel sat, their eyes met Queen Iliaja of the Suje Kingdom.
Ryo gave a slight bow.
Queen Iliaja smiled warmly.
At last, the two hosts entered.
Grand Duke Atinjo and Duke Helb took the last two empty seats at the round table, and the conference finally began.
-x-X-x-
The Eastern Countries' Joint Conference began with Grand Duke Atinjo's opening declaration and Duke Helb Plak's introductions of the delegates and running of the meeting.
Ryo had expected a clamorous, heated exchange — a conference full of shouting and sharp clashes of opinion — but his expectations were betrayed.
The meeting proceeded with a surprising calm.
The basic policy that all participating nations would unite against the Choouchi Empire passed without issue, and so did the clause that, for military matters, the frontline and decision-making authority would be entrusted to Darwei.
"This isn't what I thought it would be."
"What did you expect it to be like?"
"A chaotic shouting match where angry voices fly, and everyone denounces the other side — an uncontrollable meeting!"
"Is there really an international conference like that? I've never heard of one."
"An international conference is war with swords exchanged for words! It's not something pleasant!"
For some reason, Ryo stated that with great conviction.
Abel, an active head of state, had no idea why Ryo insisted so strongly — in fact, he thought the opposite.
"In a bilateral negotiation, maybe, but a conference with many nations won't be like that, right? Besides, before the leaders gather, bureaucrats do the pre-adjusting."
"That's being soft! That way, the leaders won't be forged."
"Hmm, I don't get it."
Ryo's argument made no sense to Abel.
Of course, since Ryo's assertion was essentially fantasy… it wasn't surprising that Abel didn't understand.
At that moment, Abel gave a faint smile.
Ryo noticed and frowned.
"What are you smiling at?"
"Oh, it reminded me of a lecture I once had back when I was at the royal castle — a lecture on 'how to approach a conference properly'."
"Excuse me?"
Ryo didn't understand, so he asked for clarification.
"Do the Knightley royal household teach things like that?"
"Probably because I was terrible at it, the teacher figured it'd be better to teach me directly. I've never heard that my elder brother took that kind of class, though."
Abel smiled faintly.
Meanwhile, the meeting continued… and was progressing remarkably smoothly.
"If the proposer comes in saying, let's have everyone give their opinions here and decide something, nothing will be decided, and only time will be wasted."
"That's true, I guess."
"So you need to at least prepare a draft proposal beforehand. And you must think through the final landing point as well."
"I understand a draft, but can you really foresee the landing point?"
"Oh, it's not hard. By checking the positions of those who'll participate and what has been proposed so far, you can make reasonable guesses. With that, you don't have to hit the other side directly — you can judge from the materials at hand, right?"
"Indeed."
Ryo nodded at Abel's explanation.
Ryo had heard something similar once from a senior who'd gone into a foreign consultancy.
The first thing his manager told him upon assignment was to enter meetings having prepared a working plan and the line you can concede up to.
That applied to internal project meetings or talks with other companies, anything at all.
Some say Westerners are better at running meetings than Japanese, but that doesn't necessarily mean they're better at arguing.
They simply prepare a plan and fallback positions before the meeting begins, check the concession line with superiors, and imagine the landing point, so decisions proceed smoothly.
If you call that being skilled at running meetings, then fair enough.
Gathering in a room with no proposals or outlook and arguing back and forth achieves nothing; time just slips away.
Ideally, schools should at least teach that 'trick' in high school.
It's useful anywhere and lasts a lifetime.
People who manage to make things happen in meetings often do those things unconsciously.
There may be a real difference between 'holding a meeting' and 'having a debate.'
Debating in the meeting is fine… but that's not the essence of a meeting.
A meeting is a place to make decisions.
Debate is not primarily for making decisions.
Understanding that alone would eliminate 'meetings that don't lead to decisions'…
And now, before Ryo's eyes, a meeting that decisively reached decisions was unfolding at breathtaking speed.
The chair was Duke Helb.
Without a doubt, he had prepared the landing point in advance.
The military frontline would be Darwei.
Because of command relationships, no troops would be dispatched from other nations.
Cooperation would take the form of material support.
That was a reasonable landing point both for Darwei and the other nations.
If troops were sent from other countries, public sentiment would become an issue.
"Why should we travel to fight for an attack coming from some unheard-of, remote northern country?"
The soldiers sent would also be emotionally conflicted.
So restricting support to supplies was a sensible, decisive measure.
For Darwei, having poorly motivated foreign troops at their flank would bring nothing but harm.
As a result… by the morning of the first day, the basic treaty had already been signed.
"It's amazing…"
"Yes, truly. Duke Helb's management of the proceedings is superb."
Ryo and Abel whispered to each other as they watched Grand Duke Atinjo and Duke Helb leave the conference room for the lunch break.
"This meeting was supposed to be three days long, wasn't it?"
"Yeah. But with the treaty signed, it's just the fine adjustments left, right? Deciding the kinds and amounts of supplies each nation will provide. But that's a bureaucratic matter, not for the heads of state…"
"Practically, the conference is over."
Even the two of them hadn't expected this.
But it was by no means an unpleasant surprise.
"Long meetings are just a nuisance."
"Better to finish quickly and spend the freed-up time meaningfully."
Whether or not their minds had immediately gone to searching for a good Kwebasa restaurant, nobody could tell…
A waiting room had been prepared for every delegation.
Duke Helb returned to Grand Duke Atinjo's waiting room after finishing a few adjustments with other nations.
In the inner anteroom, Grand Duke Atinjo sat.
The lunch set before him was almost untouched.
"Brother, will you eat?"
"I have no appetite."
Grand Duke Atinjo answered with a bitter smile.
Helb said nothing further.
He had a rough idea why his brother lacked appetite.
It was likely due to the influence of the
Since Helb had been assigned as ambassador to the free city of Kwebasa, this was the first time he'd seen Grand Duke Atinjo's meal.
Once, Grand Duke Atinjo had eaten with a boisterous, magnanimous gusto, so seeing this made Helb honestly uneasy…
But there was nothing to be done by voicing it.
"I've finished the adjustments with the other nations. It seems fine."
"As expected of Plak. I thought leaving it to you would work out… but I never imagined it would be finished by the first morning."
Grand Duke Atinjo said, laughing openly as he praised him.
Helb looked pleased to be praised by the elder brother he respected.
It was a face he never ordinarily showed.
Only before his brother could he remove his usual mask and show himself fully…
The fifteen-year age gap probably felt comfortable to Helb.
"In the afternoon, we'll announce the contents of the signing and decide the kinds and amounts of supplies from each country. You'll appear for the beginning of the afternoon announcement, but the later work on supply details can be left to the bureaucrats — you and the other heads of state may rest. You only need to attend the closing ceremony at the end…"
"Understood. I'll leave it to you."
Grand Duke Atinjo nodded at Helb's suggestion.
Helb felt a small relief.
He didn't know exactly how burdensome resisting the
But from looking at his brother, he could tell it demanded considerable physical exertion.
His brother's will was strong and his gaze sharp, but still…
Then it happened.
"Ugh!"
Grand Duke Atinjo made a muffled sound, clutched his chest, and collapsed to the floor.
"Brother!"
Helb rushed to him in a panic.
And shouted at the same time.
"Someone! Call a healer!"
Servants poured into the room with Helb's cry.
One of them ran to fetch a healer.
Helb understood immediately.
This was almost certainly the work of the
A healer could do nothing.
What he had feared had happened…
"There… Zlurma, are you there?"
"Yes, Your Highness!"
Grand Duke Atinjo called out in a pained voice, and Zlurma answered.
Apart from Grand Duke Atinjo and Helb, Zlurma was the highest-ranking courtier present.
"You… be my witness. I command you… Duke Helb Plak… To cut off my head…and pierce the heart…the vessel of my soul… Do it…"
"…I, Zlurma, accept being the witness."
"…I, Duke Helb Plak, have received this direct imperial command."
There were many others in the room besides the three of them.
Of course, they didn't understand what was happening.
They didn't know why Grand Duke Atinjo suddenly gave such an imperial command.
They didn't understand why Duke Helb accepted it without protest.
But they did know this was no ordinary crisis.
That much was obvious.
Only a fool who couldn't tell the gravity of the situation would remain idly beside Grand Duke Atinjo.
Helb rose, took down a sword that had been propped aside.
It was Grand Duke Atinjo's sword.
He unsheathed it and dropped to one knee.
He placed the sword at the fallen Atinjo's neck.
"Plak, I leave the rest to you."
"Yes… brother."
A single flash.
Then a thrust.
Grand Duke Atinjo's head was severed, and his heart was pierced.
"Your Excellency…"
The first sound to break the silence of the inner room came from Zlurma.
It was a question addressed to Helb, who still held the sword.
"Forgive me. Leave me alone for a while."
Helb said in a small voice, but the whole room heard it.
Everyone left the room, and the door was shut.
"Brother…"
Tears overflowed with that whisper.
A small, choking sob.
The sound of the sword falling from his hand.
"I will recover. I will surely recover, so please, just a moment…"
Helb's voice leaked out as a whisper.
The task had been entrusted to him.
He would give it everything he had.
But please, just a short time…
To have slain the beloved brother he revered with his own hand… even Helb, who had been raised to possess an unshakeable heart from childhood, felt the impact.
That unshakable heart was indispensable to him as a practitioner of sorcery and as the younger brother of a future grand duke.
Precisely because of that, he had a nearly perfect composure.
Still, this was painful.
And yet…
It had all been calculated…
"Ugh."
A muffled sound escaped Helb himself this time.
In that instant, he realised.
It was the
"Damn… the target was me from the start."
To shake an unshakable heart, they had made him kill his beloved elder brother.
Immediately after that, the shaken heart was taken.
"How could I be so careless…"
Helb's consciousness vanished.
-x-X-x-
The lunch break was nearly over.
The conference room was once again populated with the various diplomatic delegations.
In one corner a few leaders had gathered.
"Ryo-dono, you ask strange questions. The qualities and abilities most required of a sorcery practitioner?"
"Yes. I come from the Central Countries where sorcery practitioners are uncommon… so I thought Sue Ku-san, who was active as an adventurer in the southern continent where Bosuntar lies, might know."
"What first comes to mind… is, after all, an unshakable heart."
Unlike ordinary magicians, sorcery practitioners can 'launch' talismans and charms to manifest magical phenomena.
But those acts—sending out talismans and manifesting magic—must be carried out with composure.
If one fails there, the sorcery can run wild.
Runaway sorcery can rebound onto the caster.
That is why those who become sorcery practitioners are trained from youth to keep their hearts steady.
That was Sue Ku's explanation.
"So that means the famous sorcery practitioner Duke Helb has an unshakable heart…"
Hearing Ryo's murmured words, Abel glanced at him silently.
"Yes — the one who chaired earlier. He is indeed a powerful sorcery practitioner. I'd heard his name before, but facing him makes his strength obvious."
Sue Ku nodded.
There was also someone quietly listening to that conversation without speaking.
Queen Iliaja of the Suje Kingdom.
She had come close to where Ryo and Sue Ku were talking and was listening intently.
"Does Her Majesty Queen Iliaja have any thoughts?"
Ryo directed the question.
"No. I was also attacked by a sorcerer, but hearing you, I realise how difficult it all is."
"To be able to say that laughingly is proof of the queen's strong heart."
Ryo praised Queen Iliaja, who said with a laugh, with a wry smile.
While Sue Ku looked surprised at the news of the attack.
Strangely, both of them had experience being attacked and confronting a sorcerer…
Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen of Darwei drew near and joined the conversation.
"We, too, have been attacked by sorcerers."
Prince Ryun said, also with a laugh.
"Hearing this, it sounds like sorcerers only do assaults…"
"It's not the sorcerers themselves who are to blame, but those who use them."
Those who can use highly covert tools like talismans and charms might be well-suited to be attackers.
That peaceful air in the conference room was shattered in the next instant…
A thunderous roar, and the conference-room doors were blown off.
"
Without a beat, Ryo erected a wall of ice.
But—
Crack.
It shattered under a rapid barrage.
"
Clack, clack, clack…
"To take ten layers to finally repel it, huh…"
Ryo said in surprise as he took in the cause of the onslaught.
"Duke Helb…"
Duke Helb entered, holding a considerably fine sword in his right hand and four talismans floating around him.
"Duke Helb, who chaired earlier?"
"But his presence is different."
Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen said.
Even without magical training, the two of them could sense that something about Duke Helb's body was not normal.
"Ryo."
"Yes, Abel. It seems what we feared has happened."
Both Abel and Ryo had been warned by Helb himself.
He might be taken over by the Phantom King.
Several beams of light shot from Helb.
Clang…
But every beam was repelled by the ice wall.
"
Because the repelling damaged the wall, Ryo quickly reinforced it.
Each strike was shockingly powerful.
Almost seemingly from an Akuma.
"Abel, Sue Ku-san. Evacuate everyone outside the building."
"Ryo-dono, are you really going to face Duke Helb…?"
"Yes. I will restrain him."
Ryo nodded firmly at Sue Ku's words.
"Ryo, are you sure you can handle this alone?"
"Yes, I'll manage. Abel, take Mifa and specially look after Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen. From the beginning, Helb's attacks seem aimed at massacring all the leaders. If something were to happen to Darwei's prince, the treaty we just signed would become meaningless."
"Understood. It may be pointless to say, but be careful."
Ryo turned to face Duke Helb.
Helb turned toward Ryo as well.
He could tell the walls of ice surrounding the area had been Ryo's doing and moved to eliminate them.
"So Helb's memories from when his consciousness was intact can't be used."
Ryo murmured.
When they faced one another at the embassy, Helb had known Ryo was a water-attribute magician.
But whoever was now occupying or commanding Helb's body apparently didn't know that.
"I knew I would fight you someday. But I didn't expect it to be like this."
Ryo said, speaking honestly from the bottom of his heart.
After the embassy affair, they had gone together to deal with the problem of the death dragons and had, for the time being, built a cooperating relationship.
Still, Ryo had a vague feeling that a catastrophic clash would inevitably happen.
Even so…
"I wanted to fight the composed you."
The Helb before them had lost his crown, and his always perfectly set hair was dishevelled.
Some might find this appearance more terrifying.
"You are indeed difficult to defeat and feel strong. But your terrifying presence was greater when you were calm."
Clang, clang, clang…
The hard, lightweight sounds of things striking repeatedly.
The noises were Ryo's
But as Ryo repelled them, he noticed something.
Helb's demeanour slowly began to change.
"Is he calming down?"
Ryo's words slipped out, though he didn't know why he said them.
For a moment, it seemed the original person might have returned, or that Helb had wrested his body back from the Phantom King… but that did not appear to be the case.
Because…
"I've finally gotten used to it."
Helb spoke.
The voice was the Helb Ryo had heard before.
Calm, and with a voice that conveyed dread-inspiring force.
But the inner core was different.
Ryo couldn't say precisely why, but he could be certain.
The mind was not Helb's.
"So you're the Phantom King."
Ryo declared.
This was an opportunity.
He could converse with this Phantom King, of whom they had no facts about.
Conversation yields information.
Even if the other side intends to give nothing, a keen listener with a trained mind can extract much.
That holds true in any age or world.
Darwei—including Ryo and Abel—would soon confront the Choouchi Empire, the nation of the Phantomkin.
The information gleaned now would surely be useful then.
So Ryo sought to draw the Phantom King into conversation.
The best trick to lure someone into a conversation is to surprise them.
He played that card.
"You say you know the Phantom King? Why do you, who aren't even a Phantomkin, know of it?"
"Because I was told."
"By whom?"
"By the Duke Helb you control."
"Do not lie."
Even though Ryo spoke the truth, the Phantom King dismissed it as a lie.
"Why call it a lie?"
"A Phantomkin would never tell such secret matters to a mere human."
"Actually, it's a fact. He also mentioned the similarity to the Demon King's factor that allows a Demon King to control monsters."
"…How much do you know?"
Just as Ryo had planned.
Mentioning the phrase 'Demon King's factor' piqued this kind of being's interest.
(Conversely, it's intriguing to find out what knowing the 'Demon King's factor' implies…)
The thought flickered through Ryo's mind, but it was irrelevant now, and he shoved it aside.
"So, the Choouchi Empire's goal is the conquest of the Eastern Countries and ultimately world domination, yes?"
"Do you think I'm the sort to answer that?"
"You won't answer? That's more narrow-minded than I thought."
"…What?"
Ryo's provocation drew anger into the Phantom King's… through Helb's voice.
"Obviously, the goal is world conquest! If one can't say that outright, one shouldn't dare declare ambitions of world conquest."
"You don't need to know."
"Our King is far greater in scope and grandeur than you imagine."
"…"
"Our King would, of course, seek world conquest. The question is time — he would declare we must conquer within a year. Unlike you."
Ryo puffed out his chest and declared it.
If Abel had been listening, what would he have thought?
Abel certainly did not desire world conquest.
Not in the slightest.
It was Ryo's own wild fantasy…
"Do as you like if you want to conquer the world."
"Ooh?"
"I have my own desire."
"Tell me."
"I won't."
"That's a shame."
Ryo shrugged.
And strained his ears.
Sound from outside the room had entirely ceased.
In this situation, he did not want to use detection magic like
He relied on his ears… likely the evacuation was complete.
And the amount of information he could draw from the Phantom King here was running low.
"This whole room's ice walls — if I kill you, they'll disappear."
"Is that so?"
"And then I'll kill the leaders of each nation."
"Killing alone won't get you any prize, you know?"
"Is that so? At least if I kill you, I can seize their lives."
"Would you like to try?"
Thus, the opening shot of the battle between the Phantom King, occupying Duke Helb's body, and Ryo was fired.
-x-X-x-
Clank!
Clank, clank, clank…
The fight between the magician and the sorcerer began as a sword fight.
The Phantom King — who had taken over Duke Helb's body — lunged in with a downward slash.
Ryo met it carefully.
The Phantom King's flurry.
Ryo's defense.
It looked like a duel between swordsmen, but it didn't stop there.
Clink, clink, clink…
A reverberating sound of light masses striking something.
Four talismans shot out from the Phantom King and, from every direction, rained stones down on Ryo.
"An all-range attack… talismans are handy, aren't they?"
Ryo murmured.
All of the talisman attacks, however, were deflected by moving ice shields.
The rarely-used
Shields about the size of tennis rackets made of ice flew around Ryo, knocking away the talisman attacks.
Normally, he would have blocked with
"Annoying!"
The Phantom King shouted, and the flying talismans increased to eight.
"Shut up!"
Ryo shot back; in response the number of
"You… are you really human?"
"From every angle, I look human, right? Or do I look like a sardine to you?"
Ryo cracked that joke naturally, but, of course, no one played along.
In moments like that, he thought, once again, about how wonderful Abel was.
"If it were Abel, he'd jump in and roast any punchline."
Of course, Abel did not exist merely to respond to Ryo's jokes…
Ryo kept joking and perfectly deflected the Phantom King's talismans with ice shields, but he was at a disadvantage in the swordplay.
The Phantom King's strikes were astonishingly fast and astonishingly strong.
"I once saw someone who, after a star-shaped magic circle was drawn on his chest, gained inhuman strength and speed… this feels like that."
Ryo muttered to himself; apparently the Phantom King heard it from across the line of blades.
"Do you perhaps even know of
"Puppet? A marionette? I don't know that name, but it's probably similar. Sorcery gives that sort of impression. It makes you imagine pure, upright magicians and decadent, depraved sorcerers. I feel sorry for the earnest sorcerers."
"Nonsense!"
At Ryo's flippant remark, the Phantom King increased the speed of his blade.
It wasn't just force and speed.
His technique was also quite high.
But more than that, Ryo had been bothered by something for a while.
It was the sword the Phantom King wielded.
It didn't glow red like a magic sword.
It didn't glow green like the sword of the Akuma Argenta.
Yet Ryo felt something close to that kind of presence.
"Could it be a Holy Sword?"
That was a total guess.
Ryo had only seen two Holy Swords… probably.
He remembered seeing a few in the Western countries, but only two clearly.
The sword of Grandmaster Hugh McGrath and the sword of the hero Roman.
Both looked like ordinary swords.
Still, they gave off a certain presence… something you couldn't quite explain.
Ryo couldn't put it into words either.
He felt that same presence from the sword in front of him.
"I felt it the moment I grabbed it, so that feeling was right."
The Phantom King said with a smirk, continuing,
"It seems to be Duke Atinjo's sword… when it comes from that region, it must be the Holy Sword Tatien."
"Duke Atinjo brought troublesome things again…"
"A Holy Sword is something you always keep at your side, right?"
"Speaking of which… I heard if someone other than the master holds it, it could get sulky and kill them…"
Ryo remembered a story he'd heard from Hugh McGrath.
"Hmph, you understand, do you?"
"Just because it's a Holy Sword doesn't mean it has special skills!"
"How confident are you on that?"
"Huh?"
The Phantom King replied as if to smash that confidence to pieces.
Hearing that, even Ryo was surprised.
"Someone who even knows about the Demon Lord's factor and Stellar magic circle does not know 'Holy Sword Sublimation'?"
"Holy Sword Sublimation?"
Ryo repeated the phrase.
It was the first time he'd heard it.
"Kukuku, you don't know? How delightful."
The Phantom King said with a wicked, ominous grin.
Ryo felt his temper flare, but let it slide.
Honestly, there was no room for carelessness in that duel.
And yet, even while he was pressed for concentration, information that nagged at him was dangled in front of him.
That was very bad.
In a situation that required focus, his attention was being chipped away.
Perhaps that was the point?
Was there really such a thing as 'Holy Sword Sublimation'?
'A bluff? Just trying to shake me mentally?'
It was possible.
If your heart wavers, your sword wavers.
After all, Ryo often said,
'Robbing the enemy of composure is the most basic of interpersonal combat.'
The moment he thought that, the atmosphere around Ryo changed.
"Ohh…"
The Phantom King, sensing it too, smirked.
Ryo himself understood.
From the start, he had to enter a stance that wouldn't waver.
If you only steady yourself once you're pushed into a corner… your foot might slip someday.
But he couldn't help it now.
Ryo unfolded an impenetrable sword defense.
It repelled even the Phantom King's blade—overwhelming him with strength and speed, and matching him in technique.
"You're human, and yet you trained this much."
The Phantom King murmured; there was not an ounce of mockery in that voice.
Genuine praise, from the depths of his heart.
Even an enemy should be given credit where it's due.
Ryo parried a thrust.
He dodged a slash.
He met a downward strike… with an ice shield.
"What?"
It was an unexpected block for the Phantom King.
Because Ryo didn't take the blow with his sword, he freed himself.
He stepped in hard and, like a sword draw technique, slashed his blade across with only his right hand.
Swoosh.
Duke Helb's formal attire was sliced.
But Ryo felt the blade rebound off something hard under the clothing.
"Huh?"
In that instant, Ryo saw it.
"Has he stuck talismans to his body?"
Yes — talismans adhered to the body had repelled the Murasame slash.
"Is that allowed?"
Ryo blurted out honestly.
"What? Have you never fought a sorcerer who's good at close combat?"
"Saying a sorcerer is good at close combat is strange!"
"You're a magician, and yet you can fight close up, too. There are such ones even among sorcerers."
"Oh, I see."
Ryo found himself involuntarily convinced.
"Then shouldn't all sorcerers just stick talismans to their bodies…"
"You'd run out of magic and die."
"Ah — that makes sense. That's reasonable. Duke Helb can do that because…"
"Because he's a Phantomkin."
"Racial traits are terrifying."
Indeed, something that always stood in Ryo's way.
Racial traits.
Whether Akumas, djinns, Ruri's two…or Phantomkins!
"Differences in racial traits are really troublesome."
"Humans are especially fragile."
The Phantom King shrugged at Ryo's mutter.
Not mocking, he truly believed it.
Ryo could not argue.
Without listing the obvious examples, in the land of 'Phi' with dragons and vampires, humans were truly…
"Hey, you — why bother resisting when you're such a fragile human?"
"Excuse me? Are you saying I should stop resisting and die?"
"I don't care whether you live or die. I only want to kill the state leaders. You don't belong to that group, do you?"
"Why do you think I'm different? I was formally invited by the Duchy of Atinjo and sat at the round table, too."
"Really? I've never seen you…"
At that point, the Phantom King realised.
His slip of the tongue.
Ryo grinned.
"You can see the courts of each country, can you?"
He hadn't seen today's round table; he had seen the courts and royal castles of various countries earlier by some means.
And had memorized the faces of their leaders.
To slaughter them all at this place.
"Talking to you reveals many things I don't want known."
"What then? Earlier, you said you didn't intend to kill me?"
"…You're at fault."
With that single line, the Phantom King stepped in at godspeed and brought his blade down.
Swoosh.
Ryo didn't take it head-on; with Murasame, he angled and deflected.
At that moment, Ryo saw the corner of the Phantom King's mouth twitch up.
He didn't know why, but a bad feeling ran through him.
"
"Holy Sword Sublimation 'Thrust'."
The Holy Sword Tatien, as if piercing paper, passed through Ryo's hardest ice wall with almost no resistance.
"Ugghh!"
The blade drove deep into Ryo's left flank.
The Phantom King forced a horizontal slash to bisect Ryo's body.
Ryo was blown backward.
He opened his
Full-throttle flight.
He couldn't modulate his speed.
He slammed into the rear wall.
Pain seared through his whole body.
But what Ryo felt more than the pain was relief.
If he hadn't flown back, the horizontal slash from the Holy Sword that had pierced his stomach would have cleaved him in two.
"You pierced through
As expected, that was a first.
He had experienced being broken by magic before, but even then,
This time it was different.
As if nothing were there…
"You flew backward yourself? What mechanism is that? A Flight Ring or something? Still, it's too fast."
The Phantom King muttered, tilting his head while manipulating Tatien with one hand.
Tatien now shone with white light.
It had not emitted that light earlier; it changed after he shouted the Holy Sword Sublimation.
"So that was the 'Holy Sword Sublimation' just now."
Ryo said as he got to his feet.
With a large hole in his belly, his legs wavered.
He froze his internal organs to staunch the bleeding, but he wasn't sure how much effect it would have.
"Yeah. That's a trait of the Holy Sword Tatien. Holy Swords each have outstanding characteristics; this one's specialty is that it 'ignores' all magic."
"I thought so."
"That ice wall you set up just before was something, but its compatibility with Tatien is the worst. And you even put an ice film on your body, right? Don't blame me for sticking talismans to myself."
"That's that, and this is this."
Of course, Ryo had
Worse, it even pierced the fairy-king's robe draped over him.
The robe that repels all magic and deflects attribute-imbued sword attacks.
"You get it? You can't win."
"So you want me to just give up and die?"
"I'll hand you the information you took as-is. Take it and go."
"Pardon?"
"I said, walk away now."
"…What about the leaders of the nations?"
"I'll kill them."
"Figures."
Ryo shrugged.
That was the whole reason the Phantom King had possessed Duke Helb's body.
Among those leaders to be killed were many of Ryo's acquaintances.
Leave them and simply walk away?
Impossible!
Besides…
"I made a promise. If Duke Helb went berserk, I'd stop him."
"Stop him?"
"Cut off his head and pierce his heart."
"That's the right way to kill a Phantom, but if you do that, this man will die, you know?"
"He asked to be killed. I'll keep my promise."
Ryo's eyes were full of resolve.
No hesitation at all.
He might not be able to exert everything with a gaping hole in his abdomen.
But that didn't matter.
He would keep his promise.
That was all.
Ryo quietly assumed a focused stance.
"Hmph, fine. It seems I must kill you after all."
The Phantom King also raised the white-glowing Holy Sword Tatien.
(
"I see it!
The Phantom King chanted.
Of course, a sorcerer can cast spells, too.
A sorcerer of the Phantom King's caliber—or the Duke Helb he possessed—could throw out attack magic more powerful than many mediocre magicians.
What was unleashed was countless flames.
The Phantom King must have realized that Ryo had turned the water vapor in the air into a mass of mines.
As if to counter number with number, innumerable flames flew toward Ryo.
They struck the steam mines.
Countless mutual annihilation flashes filled the air.
Naturally, that was meant as a blinding tactic for close combat.
Ryo plunged in.
Of course, the Phantom King understood.
That Ryo would dive in.
It had all been calculated.
"I anticipated that!"
The Holy Sword Tatien's Holy Sword Sublimation 'ignores' all magic.
No matter what magic Ryo used to protect himself.
Tatien could cut through it.
It was a single, flawless stroke, bisecting without resistance.
Yes… with no resistance at all.
No resistance even to cutting flesh.
"A clone! How clever!"
The Phantom King noticed immediately and caught the later-arriving Ryo.
Then he sliced him in two again.
At that moment, he realized.
There had been two decoys.
The cut decoys changed from ice to water and were scattered around.
Like a sudden squall.
They swirled, clinging to the Phantom King's body…
"
The water Ryo had wrapped around Duke Helb's body was instantly turned into an ice coffin, and without pause, the right arm wielding the Holy Sword Tatien was cut off at the wrist.
"A sword that ignores magic can't be put in an ice coffin, after all."
Blood began to flow again from Ryo's reopened wound; seeing Duke Helb frozen, Ryo murmured.
"Better than killing him outright, right?"
Then he lost consciousness.
-x-X-x-
"Ugh…"
"Ryo!"
A familiar voice pierced Ryo's ears.
When he opened his eyes, he saw the speaker.
"Abel… where is this?"
Ryo checked Abel, then looked around to assess the situation.
He seemed to be lying on a bed.
When he touched his stomach with his hand, the wound was closed… someone must have cast
With so many national leaders gathered here, there were probably high-level healers among their attendants.
The room where Ryo lay looked like a school infirmary.
"This is the medical room inside the Supreme Council."
"Oh—no wonder."
Ryo hadn't been wrong to think it resembled a school infirmary.
"After the sounds of battle stopped and no one came out, we went back to the conference room and found Duke Helb frozen in ice and you lying on the floor."
"Right! What about Duke Helb? Is the ice preservation being maintained properly?"
"He's fine."
"His right hand from the wrist and the sword… he said it's the Holy Sword Tatien — what happened to those?"
"Right hand? There was no sword either."
"What…?"
Ryo distinctly remembered cutting off Duke Helb's right wrist.
The wrist and the sword had fallen to the floor… and now they were gone?
It felt a little strange, but for the moment it wasn't a major problem… he thought.
Probably.
After that, many of the leaders visited the medical room and thanked Ryo.
They didn't want him to overexert himself, so they left quickly.
The last to enter was Zlurma of the Duchy of Atinjo.
Formerly a second secretary.
Now apparently promoted to Undersecretary in the foreign affairs office.
"Ryo-dono, thank you for stopping Duke Helb."
Zlurma bowed deeply.
The gratitude was sincere.
From the first time Ryo and Abel met him, they'd mostly just been yelled at, but they didn't have a bad impression of Zlurma.
With the Grand Duke of Atinjo dead and Duke Helb frozen, Zlurma was apparently the acting head of the Atinjo diplomatic delegation.
"We'd like to bring His Grace… Duke Helb, back to the capital. Will you cooperate?"
"Of course."
Ryo nodded without hesitation.
Then Ryo asked the question that had been gnawing at him.
"It may not be our place to interfere, but… with the Grand Duke deceased and the Duke's younger brother incapacitated, who will inherit the grand ducal throne?"
"If anything happens to the Grand Duke, it has already been decided that Prince Bashu will succeed to the grand ducal seat."
"Ah, that's a relief."
As expected, the Grand Duchy of Atinjo had already taken measures.
Zlurma said more detailed arrangements would be handled later and left the medical room.
Only Ryo and Abel were left.
Abel had noticed.
Ryo's expression had remained tight for some time.
Of course, Abel understood why.
"It's not your fault, Ryo."
"Huh?"
"You must be worrying about having had to freeze Duke Helb, right?"
Abel's tone in moments like this was gentle.
He understood Ryo's anguish.
"You were told to end his life, but you stopped him without killing him."
"But… I can't help thinking I could've done it better."
Ryo understood what Abel meant.
In his head, at least.
But the heart cannot be deceived.
"For example, couldn't I have sealed the Phantom King like I sealed the Djinn using alchemy…?"
"I see."
Abel's understanding deepened when Ryo spoke concretely.
He regretted not having trained his alchemy further.
"Kenneth and Frank de Verde collaborated to make an alchemy device to seal a Djinn and brought it to the battlefield."
"Those two!? They're arguably the pinnacle of modern alchemists."
"They tried to strip away the Djinn's power and create an ideal containment… but in the end, they couldn't seal it."
"Unbelievable…"
"Even they couldn't do it. Sealing a powerful being is truly difficult."
Abel shook his head slightly.
Ryo nodded wordlessly.
In other words, those who sealed the Djinns centuries ago were exceptional.
Legends attribute it to King Richard… perhaps sealing such beings truly requires alchemists praised in legend.
"The path of alchemy stretches far and wide."
"That it does."
They both sighed softly.
After a while, Ryo spoke quietly.
"I don't know when it will be… but I will defeat the Phantom King."
"Because if you defeat the Phantom King, Duke Helb won't be possessed anymore?"
"Yes. I can't free him while that remains unresolved. Even now, it's more likely he's still possessed."
"True."
Abel nodded at Ryo's words.
"Cut off his head and pierce his heart."
"There may be a way to free him without killing him."
"Hm? Free Duke Helb without killing the Phantom King? Is that even possible?"
"Persuasion."
"…Huh?"
Abel made a bizarre, incredulous sound.
"After subduing the Phantom King, instead of taking his life, I will speak to him at length."
"Explain the foolishness of conflict, the terror of violence, and the absurdity of Abel's own unreasonable-ness…"
"You said it first…"
Ryo was dumbstruck; Abel had beaten him to the line.
"People aren't so gullible that the same trick works over and over."
"Astonishing… Abel the Joke-Crusher."
"I don't like that nickname."
They laughed.
Ryo had saved Abel's life several times up until now.
He understood as well.
That his own heart had been saved many times by Abel.
Like now, again and again…
The next day.
The Eastern Countries Joint Conference concluded, and the delegations departed the autonomous city of Kwebasa.
Ryo and Abel accompanied Duke Helb, frozen in ice, to the Duchy of Atinjo's capital, Campho.
Along with Zlurma leading the Atinjo diplomatic delegation.
They had permission from Prince Ryun of Darwei.
They were also permitted to use the public vessel Tenth Ship as transport back to Darwei after the mission.
Ryo had declined, but when asked earnestly not only by Prince Ryun but also by Princess Shio Fen, he couldn't refuse.
The tenth ship's captain, La Wu, smiled and agreed.
The Tenth Ship would be sailed to the Atinjo port town of Hoi An.
After finishing their duties in the capital Campho, Ryo and Abel would move to the port town of Hoi An and board the Tenth Ship there to return to the imperial capital Hanlin.
Bidding farewell for a reunion at a later date, the two parted from Prince Ryun, Princess Shio Fen, and the Darwei diplomatic corps.
They could not imagine what had happened back in Darwei…
-x-X-x-
Ryo and Abel traveled to the capital Kamfo of the Grand Duchy of Atinjo together with the Atinjo diplomatic mission led by Acting Head Zlurma.
Trailing behind them, as if of course, was an ice sculpture riding on a
Out of consideration for privacy, the ice block had been made opaque so that nothing inside could be seen.
Still, Ryo's expression was tense.
Abel, however, was not worried at all.
The reason was obvious.
"You really are bad at riding, Ryo."
"If only Andalusia were here, this wouldn't be like this!"
Yeah— because they were traveling by horse, Ryo's face had stiffened.
If it had been his beloved mount Andalusia, he would have been able to ride with complete trust, surrendering everything and feeling calm; his expression would probably have been bright… but of course, Andalusia was at the Rondo Manor in the imperial capital Hanlin.
They had taken a ship from the capital to the autonomous city of Kwebasa and planned to return the same way… Andalusia and Abel's Feiwan had no role to play here and, naturally, stayed behind at Rondo Manor.
It made sense… but still…
"If only Andalusia were here—"
"Give it up."
Abel answered Ryo's frustrated face with the same expression he always wore.
Abel's handling of the reins seemed flawless.
"You're being a show off."
"It's the result of training since I was little."
That's right, Abel was the reigning king.
He lived constantly exposed to attention at home and abroad.
Riding beautifully was part of his job.
For that reason, he had practiced again and again since childhood.
That said, Abel was inwardly relieved.
At least outwardly, Ryo's condition had returned to normal.
Of course, deep down, he might still be worried about Duke Helb's matter.
And that was fine for now.
Nothing good ever comes from rushing.
They would adapt slowly.
Within the Atinjo delegation, the two of them were treated with extreme courtesy.
That was because Zlurma, the vice-minister of foreign affairs, had told everyone in public that Duke Helb himself had said, should anything happen to him, to entrust these two with certain matters.
"Abel once cut off Zlurma-san's head, you know."
"…Why bring that up now?"
Ryo shook his head slightly as he spoke, and Abel frowned in reply.
That incident had occurred when they had raided the embassy.
Zlurma, after Duke Helb had carved a star-shaped magic circle into his chest, had gained powers that hardly seemed human.
Zlurma and Abel had engaged in single combat.
By the way, during that time, Ryo and Duke Helb had been chatting.
Well, there might have been a bit of fighting too… perhaps that was just Ryo's imagination.
In the end, Abel had cut off Zlurma's head, pierced his heart… and severed both his arms and legs.
But the truly terrifying thing came after that.
The next day, the two of them were shouted at by Zlurma once again.
The very Zlurma whose head had been cut off, whose heart had been pierced, and whose limbs had been severed the day before…
Apparently, Duke Helb had 'treated' him.
A faint line of stitching could be seen around the neck…
And now that Zlurma was leading the delegation as acting head.
"If I were Zlurma, I'd tear Abel to pieces first."
"Ryo will save me, right?"
"Sadly, delivering Duke Helb, frozen in ice, to the other side is the priority, so Abel will have to manage on his own…"
"Hey…"
People apparently prioritize things differently.
"Abel, I'm always grateful to you. Really. Really. But that's one thing and this is another."
"When will you save someone if not when they're being torn apart?"
"It's decided. When Abel orders too much food and can't finish it, I'll eat with him and save him."
"That hardly sounds like a likely situation."
"Why not? Abel overeating happens often, doesn't it?"
"In such cases, Ryo, you'd already be in an overeaten state yourself, right?"
"Now that you mention it…"
The Atinjo delegation moved slowly.
That was because there were several carriages.
One of them, the most luxuriously built carriage, was supposedly reserved for the Grand Duke… but at present it carried the Grand Duke of Atinjo frozen in ice.
Zlurma had asked Ryo to freeze him.
He could not be allowed to decay.
Because of that, the atmosphere in the diplomatic corps was understandably not cheerful.
Even the two of them spoke in low voices.
Still, there was no option but to go together.
"It can't be helped."
"The world doesn't go the way we want it to."
Both Abel and Ryo were grown-ups.
Two days later, the Atinjo delegation, which included Ryo and Abel, arrived in the capital Kamfo.
The party went straight into the royal palace.
Zlurma, Ryo, and Abel — together with the ice-entombed Duke Helb — were shown into the audience chamber.
As soon as the three entered, a young man approached.
"Zlurma."
"Your Highness…"
Zlurma uttered those words and then fell silent, bowing his head.
"It's alright. I have received the report."
The young man closed his eyes lightly once, opened them wide, and looked at Ryo and Abel.
"I take you to be Ryo-dono and Abel-dono of the Kingdom of Knightley. I am Bash, Prince of the Grand Duchy of Atinjo."
"Your Highness, it is an honor to meet you. I am Ryo Mihara, Duke of Rondo; I hold the position of Premier Duke of the Kingdom of Knightley."
"And I'm Abel, his guard."
Prince Bash, the heir to the Grand Duchy, offered his greeting; Ryo revealed his status as Duke of Rondo, and Abel maintained the cover of being simply 'Abel, the guard.'
"Duke of Rondo? Yes, yes — I read the record that a letter of invitation was sent to you as an advisor for this conference. You are currently staying in Darwei, are you not?"
"Yes, Your Highness, as you say."
"I see. The duke, my uncle…"
Bash said that and then looked at the ice sculpture.
"I'll make it visible."
Ryo deliberately said that, and then altered the ice's translucency.
The frozen form of Duke Helb was revealed.
"Uncle…"
Bash murmured and stepped forward to touch the sculpture.
"A result of my lack of power…"
Ryo bowed his head and said.
"No! I have read Zlurma's report. My uncle originally asked to be killed to stop his rampage. But you, Duke, stopped him without taking his life. That alone… I believe you have conferred a great boon upon our Grand Duchy."
Ryo was genuinely impressed that this barely adult young man could speak such dignified words in front of his frozen uncle.
Understanding something with the head is one thing; the heart often refuses to accept it.
Especially when the sight is shocking, the refusal becomes conspicuous.
A relative frozen in ice would be the prime example.
Yet Prince Bash stood before them, composed and brave.
He was a member of the grand ducal family, after all.
From childhood, he had been tempered in many ways… whether he liked it or not.
"Duke."
"Yes, Your Highness?"
"I have an impertinent request."
"What is it?"
"The Grand Duke's funeral and my accession ceremony to the new Grand Duke will take place thereafter. The schedule will be about ten days in total; would you attend?"
"Eh…"
Ryo was taken aback.
Come to think of it, if the Grand Duke had died, there would be a funeral, and it was easy to imagine an accession ceremony for the new Grand Duke.
But Ryo had not expected to be invited to such an event.
First of all, Ryo had no relation to the Grand Duchy of Atinjo.
On the contrary, unofficial though it was, he had been one of the people who attacked the Atinjo embassy in Kwebasa… perhaps not public knowledge, but surely a matter people around the ruling circles were aware of.
Moreover, he was the one who had frozen the Grand Duke's younger brother.
Even if it had been at the request for help.
While they might not persecute him, he had not expected to be asked to attend the ceremonies.
And normally, a sovereign's accession ceremony is announced domestically and abroad and held months later with representatives from surrounding countries in attendance.
That is because it serves not only as a domestic ritual but also as a foreign-facing demonstration.
Yet the man standing before them, now to become the new Grand Duke, intended to hold his accession ceremony very soon.
"Of course, it would be an honor to attend, but you plan to do the accession ceremony so quickly?"
"Yes. In fact, my father… the Grand Duke of Atinjo, told me before we left for Kwebasa. If anything happens to him, take the throne immediately. He didn't elaborate, only said one thing — 'do not allow any stirrings'."
"Stirrings…"
Ryo tilted his head slightly at Prince Bash's words.
He did not know the precise nuance of "do not allow any stirrings".
But the Grand Duchy of Atinjo had brought under its control the Ghegish-Lu Federation and had also dominated the autonomous city Kwebasa.
And that was very recent.
And by quasi-military means.
If, at this time, a powerful Grand Duke had died, and the Grand Duke's younger brother Duke Helb—a visible symbol of the duchy's might—had disappeared… it was plausible that those who wanted to wriggle and stir would begin to move.
"Fortunately, the national army, centered on the royal guard, supports my accession. Therefore, I wish to transfer power as quickly as possible and build a firm regime."
"I see."
Ryo nodded deeply at Prince Bash's words.
From the time word of the Grand Duke's death spread until the diplomatic mission returned, many, including Prince Bash, had already been moving.
Show as little vulnerability as possible, for as short a time as possible.
Move before the other side receives the information.
That is the basic tactic for seizing power quickly.
For the next ten days, Ryo and Abel stayed at the royal palace annex of the Grand Duchy of Atinjo.
They were treated as honored guests in every way.
The funeral and the accession ceremony proceeded without incident, and Bash was enthroned as the new Grand Duke of Atinjo.
"Thank you, Duke Rondo."
"No, Your Majesty, this is the least I could do."
The newly enthroned Grand Duke Bash expressed his gratitude, and Ryo replied.
"We will keep my uncle… Duke Helb in safekeeping."
"Someday… I will surely free him."
Ryo did not make promises he could not keep.
He would not declare anything here.
But in his heart, he made a solemn vow.
He would defeat the Phantom King and free Duke Helb.
Thus, Ryo and Abel were seen out from the palace.
They were to ride by horse to the port town of Hoi An within the Grand Duchy of Atinjo.
Of course, the new Grand Duke Bash offered to send a carriage… but carriages in the Eastern countries were not, to be polite, especially comfortable.
Ryo politely declined and said they would take their time touring the duchy on horseback to Hoi An, and so they were sent off.
"Well, the job's done for now."
"Not everything is perfect, but haven't we done everything we could at the moment?"
"Yes, I think so."
As they exchanged that conversation, a figure appeared before them.
Or rather, could it be called a figure…?
At the very least, it was something that shouldn't be in Kamfo, the capital of the Grand Duchy of Atinjo…
It was 150 centimeters tall.
Its body was entirely ice, blue in color.
It was not human…
And around its neck it wore a yellow scarf…
"Eh? Friendship Token No. 2-kun?"
It was, indeed, the golem Ryo had made and left in the care of Captain Lu Yao—Friendship Token No. 2-kun.
-x-X-x-
Time rewinds a little.
The Darwei diplomatic delegation departed the autonomous city of Kwebasa.
Of the ten official ships, nine sailed north with a twenty-ship Darwei fleet toward the imperial capital Hanlin.
Only the tenth ship headed for the grand duchy's port town, Hoi An.
It went there to pick up Ryo and Abel.
The problem was discovered when the Darwei delegation arrived at the port of the imperial capital, Hanlin.
"His Majesty the Emperor has been abducted?"
That astonishing report reached the delegation.
From the imperial capital Hanlin to the autonomous city Kwebasa took ten days, they stayed seven days, and the return from Kwebasa to Hanlin took fourteen days.
They had been away from Hanlin for barely a month.
What on earth could have happened in that time?
The Darwei delegation proceeded to the Imperial Palace.
That was standard procedure.
Of course, Emperor Tsuin, the person to whom they should report, was not present, but even so, they had no choice but to make their report.
They advanced toward the Imperial Palace at a slow pace.
During that time, they were gathering information.
Reports kept flowing to the delegation—more precisely, to the main party that included Prince Ryun, Princess Shio Fen, Chamberlain Lin Shun, and Captain Lu Yao.
The first thing they learned was…
"Prince Kouri is running things?"
It seemed Prince Kouri, the Second Prince, was overseeing affairs inside the Imperial Palace.
Indeed, before the delegation departed, when Emperor Tsuin and Prime Minister Byan Byan fell ill, Prince Kouri had acted as regent.
That had been done based on precedent.
So, considering that way, it was not necessarily strange.
"Prime Minister Byan Byan has collapsed again, the Chief Eunuch was removed from office and placed under house arrest? The Commander of the Imperial Guard, Tin Meu-dono, is missing?"
That report clearly made Prince Ryun frown.
One could, perhaps, accept that Prime Minister Byan Byan had collapsed again—he was old, after all.
But the Chief Eunuch was removed and placed under house arrest?
And Commander Tin missing?
That meant those closest to Emperor Tsuin were not currently at the center of government.
More intelligence came in about the Ryun residence.
"Four days ago, forces from Prince Kouri's household entered."
"And Wen Shu and the others?"
The Ryun residence had many retainers centered on Chamberlain Wen Shu.
"They couldn't decide how to act—or whether they were even allowed to—so they didn't resist. The troops from Prince Kouri's household weren't violent; they're reportedly just keeping watch."
"I see. Wen Shu's judgment was correct."
Prince Ryun nodded at the report.
Then looked at Princess Shio Fen and said,
"Shio, I think the chambermaids are all right."
"Yes."
Mifa and the other closest chambermaids had attended the meeting, but most of the other chambermaids remained at the residence.
Hearing that they were likely safe, Princess Shio Fen felt a measure of relief.
Still, both Prince Ryun and Princess Shio Fen had questions.
"If they sent troops into my residence, what happened to the Rondo Manor next door?"
That was the question they shared.
The Rondo Manor belonged to Duke Rondo—Ryo—and the only other person there was his escort, Abel.
Both were absent.
There was no particular need to send troops into Ryun's household, but…
"After subjugating Prince Ryun's residence, they apparently dispatched troops to the Rondo Manor as well. However…"
The messenger averted his eyes slightly.
He seemed unsure how to continue.
"Say exactly what you've heard."
"Yes. They found golems lined up in front of the gate of the Rondo Manor."
"Golems belonging to Duke Rondo?"
"They say a horned golem stood at the front, and behind it a long row of golems holding spears of ice… they formed a posture that allowed no one entry."
"Not surprising."
"Behind the golems stood two fine horses, glaring at Prince Kouri's troops… the royal household's horses were frightened."
"The Duke's beloved mounts, I suppose."
Prince Ryun nodded.
"Upon receiving that report, Prince Kouri ordered an immediate withdrawal. He deemed any unnecessary interference uncalled for."
"As expected of my elder brother—an appropriate decision."
Prince Ryun nodded repeatedly.
Perhaps Prince Kouri had seized the throne by force in the interim.
If so, he would be a clear enemy… but even so, his decisiveness could not be underestimated.
That he did not forcibly storm the Rondo Manor was a sign of prudence.
Duke Rondo was clearly aligned with Prince Ryun, and making him an outright enemy would be extremely troublesome.
It was common knowledge that Lord Rowon—one of the Six Saints—was with Prince Kouri's faction; he could match Duke Rondo in combat or even surpass him.
He had earned that reputation.
Still, Prince Kouri judged it unnecessary to make a clear enemy of him.
The alchemical and magical techniques inside the Rondo Manor… golems being chief among them—would be valuable, and it would be an opportunity to seize them. But doing so would enrage Duke Rondo.
Prince Kouri apparently chose to avoid that for now.
However…
Prince Ryun looked at Captain Lu Yao.
Lu Yao seemed to understand what Ryun was asking.
"Yes, the Rondo Manor may be useful."
Captain Lu Yao answered.
That did not mean immediate action.
There was not yet enough information.
Above all…
"Where is His Majesty the Emperor…?"
When they entered the Imperial Palace, the delegation was taken to the square in front of Taiji Hall.
It was the same plaza where Prince Ryun had once reported victory on the Ryokusou Plain.
But this time, the figure who stepped forward before the party was not Emperor Tsuin…
"Brother…"
"Prince Ryun, it is good to see you."
Prince Kouri appeared much as before.
His dress was the formal attire of a prince… but his aura had changed.
It was not overtly intimidating.
How to put it… he exuded overwhelming composure.
It was an ease born of the feeling that every move he had made so far had connected and produced the expected result… confidence born of success.
Truly, a masterful positioning of stones.
(Could it be… that everything unfolded according to my brother's plan?)
Ryun forcibly brushed away that instinctive thought.
After all, what exactly constituted 'everything'? From where to where did 'everything' stretch?
Did that include the abduction of the Emperor?
The Eastern Countries Joint Conference?
The actions of the Choouchi Empire in the first place…?
"Brother, I have urgent matters I must discuss."
Prince Ryun looked Kouri directly in the eye and began.
Certainly, the Imperial Palace might be in Prince Kouri's hands at the moment.
But he was not yet Emperor.
He remained only an 'imperial prince'.
"Of course, Ryun. To Taiji Hall."
Then, only Prince Kouri and Prince Ryun entered Taiji Hall.
"Brother, what in the world is happening?"
Prince Ryun asked as soon as they entered.
Prince Kouri said nothing and walked to the center of Taiji Hall and sat.
Tea had been prepared.
Kouri had apparently anticipated that Ryun would begin the conversation and that they would speak alone.
"You'll have gathered a great deal of information on your way here, Ryun."
Prince Kouri said as he poured tea.
Ryun had no choice but to sit opposite him.
"I heard His Majesty the Emperor… my father… was abducted."
"It's true."
"How… why… in what way…?"
"That is unknown. Commander Tin Meu, who was guarding His Majesty, is missing, so we lack the details."
"No…"
Prince Ryun had indeed been told that Commander Tin of the Forbidden Guard was missing.
But Kouri's manner of speaking made it sound as if Commander Tin had betrayed them.
As if that devoutly loyal Tin could have done such a thing.
Ryun's thoughts trailed off there.
A piece of information arrived that cut them short.
"They say our father was executed by the Choouchi Empire."
"What did you say?!"
Abducted and then executed?
The Darwei Emperor?
Could such a thing be possible?
"Where did that information come from…?"
Ryun asked in a choked voice.
"From spies our father and Prime Minister Byan Byan had placed within the Choouchi Empire."
"Is that information certain?"
"They also reported that an official announcement from the Choouchi Empire will likely be made within a few days."
"This is… impossible…"
Prince Ryun stood dumbfounded.
But he could not remain stunned forever.
"If the Choouchi Empire has executed the Darwei Emperor, that amounts to a declaration of war. How shall we respond militarily?"
"No. We will not attack."
"Huh?"
Prince Ryun was speechless at Kouri's unexpected reply.
"Of course, publicly we will condemn the Choouchi Empire, but we will not take military action."
"Why?!"
"There is the state of Peiyu between us. Also, I do not believe the Choouchi Empire will press further against Darwei."
"What is your basis for that…?"
"Their objective seems to have been our father… the Emperor himself."
"…Father?"
Prince Ryun could not fathom the meaning.
They had kidnapped him, executed him, and that was the end… if their goal had been the person, he could not think of a reason to act in such a manner.
"Keep this matter confidential for the time being. The Choouchi Empire will likely announce it publicly, but until that happens, do not speak of it."
"…Understood."
Prince Ryun understood that Prince Kouri had effectively taken the lead.
Even in just over a month, he had acted as regent for the Emperor and had been imperial prince for six years, holding a majority of the Shitaifu class… his achievements and base of power were much greater.
(There's no way to act now, in any case.)
The delegation dispersed, and Prince Ryun and the others returned to the Ryun Royal Residence.
"Your Highness, I am sorry!"
Chamberlain Wen Shu knelt on both knees and apologized as soon as Ryun returned.
Wen Shu had been responsible for the residence during Ryun's absence and had failed to prevent Prince Kouri's forces from entering.
"It's all right, Wen Shu. It's enough that the residence wasn't looted. You did well."
Prince Ryun said, then entered the house.
After Prince Ryun returned, Prince Kouri's household troops withdrew from the Ryun residence.
As a result, entry to the residence was unrestricted.
Yet at every crossroads, soldiers from Prince Kouri's household stood watch—surveillance apparently continued.
"Isn't this tightening of control a little too lenient?"
"They likely want to make use of your abilities."
Prince Ryun asked quietly, and Chamberlain Lin Shun answered.
"My abilities?"
"Yes. Your strength as a general."
"If Prince Kouri ascends the throne, he cannot personally go out to the battlefield all the time. Prince Churei is skilled in martial matters, but he cannot single-handedly defend all of vast Darwei. So he may wish to use me."
Prince Ryun shook his head slightly.
He knew that even entertaining such thoughts revealed how difficult it would be to prevent Prince Kouri from taking the throne.
He understood, but he also needed to see the future clearly.
To predict the future accurately, one must grasp the present precisely.
"For now, we have no choice but to accept it."
That night, at the Ryun Royal Residence.
Captain Lu Yao of the Prince's bodyguard unit had been sleeping in her room when she was woken by a tap on the shoulder.
Her companion had awakened her.
"Huh? No. 2-kun?"
It seemed the Friendship Token No. 2-kun had roused her.
Of course, nothing like this had ever happened before.
In Lu Yao's eyes, No. 2-kun looked resolved.
Others might not perceive such determination, but Lu Yao did…
She put on her outer cloak and took her sword, following No. 2-kun out of the room.
No. 2-kun led her to the outer wall of the residence.
Beyond it lay the Rondo Manor.
The outer wall between them was about three meters high; some might manage to vault it if they tried, but the master of the house, Duke Rondo, had often warned them emphatically:
"Never attempt to climb our outer wall. If you try, you'll freeze solid."
He had apparently reproduced a water-attribute magic—some kind of steam-magic—using alchemy.
She was considered one of the capital's foremost alchemists; her master, Lord Rowon, was a famous water-attribute magician, and Lu Yao respected him, but she honestly did not fully understand Duke Rondo's magic.
No—perhaps she could even say she did not understand it at all.
She could not comprehend how someone could reproduce that magic through alchemy.
She had wanted to discuss that matter with her master, Lord Rowon, but had not yet had the chance…
In any case, three figures had just leapt over that outer wall.
Lu Yao reflexively drew her sword.
"Wait!"
A low, controlled male voice called out.
It seemed to come from the man in the middle of the three.
Looking closely, the two figures who had leapt the wall beside him were not human at all.
They were golems.
And they were the same type as No. 2-kun…
"Golems of Duke Rondo? And the one on the left is No. 1-kun, isn't it?"
Lu Yao recognized them.
A golem with a horn on its head.
She remembered Duke Rondo happily introducing "No. 1-kun, the Advance-Notice Officer".
No. 1-kun was apparently the leader of the 'Oniwaban First Division'… Lu Yao did not know what that unit was.
She had heard that No. 2-kun had the authority of a leader of 'Oniwaban Second Division'.
From that, she guessed these golems held positions above the others.
If No. 1-kun had accompanied them, then perhaps the man in the middle was not an enemy.
Lu Yao felt certain of that.
They were golems, after all.
She did not know exactly how much judgment golems possessed.
But No. 2-kun was Lu Yao's partner.
Someone she trusted above anyone.
If her partner's companions had made a judgment… she trusted that more than the decisions of many humans.
"I take you to be Captain Lu Yao of Prince Ryun's bodyguard. I am Tin Meu, Commander of the Imperial Guard."
The man in the middle said as he stepped forward.
Moonlight made his face clearly visible.
Of course, Captain Lu Yao knew Commander Tin.
She had met him several times at the Imperial Palace.
He had been the one who had protected Emperor Tsuin.
Yet she had heard.
That Commander Tin was missing.
And that he was implicated in the Emperor's abduction.
"I understand that you are Commander Tin Meu-dono."
Lu Yao said, though she did not lower her sword.
"But Commander Tin is under suspicion of being involved in His Majesty's abduction."
"I know. That is why I was being sheltered at the Rondo Manor."
"You were sheltered?"
"I wish to speak to Prince Ryun. I have to tell him everything."