Brotherhood of Pleiades

Brotherhood of Pleiades – Part 1

Translated by: @garmadoncar

Proofread by: Cirdan Lunae

Note: The following side story contains spoilers for Arc 7. It takes place at the end of Volume 31 (Web Novel Arc 7 Chapter 75).

1

――In the west of the Vollachian Empire, there was a lone island surrounded by a lake of isolating waters, Ginunhive. The island, also known as the Gladiator Island, had some unique rules imposed over it.

On the whole, the people who lived on the island were divided into two different groups―― the guards who controlled, and the gladiators who were being controlled. Many of the gladiators were criminals or people in debt, or perhaps just people who were simply unlucky enough to be captured by slavers and sent to the island; every single one of them had their own individual circumstances.

But, no matter what their reason for being sent to the island was, the way they were all treated there was impartial.

All that was required of the gladiators was that every few days, when their turn would come around, they just needed to participate in Sparka, a show that turned the techniques and lives of people into a spectacle, and survive through it.

If they had enough luck and true strength, then they would not only be able to survive through many Sparkas and live a long life, but they could also buy their own freedom as a reward, or even gain a position of superiority on the island.

Where personal history and humanity were irrelevant, it was a utopia for savages where only physical strength was esteemed―― that was the place known as the Gladiator Island Ginunhive.

???: [――There are lotsa guys who got that misconception, but if ya ask this guy right here, I’d say it’s a fucking dumbass way of thinking.]

Saying that, the man gulped down some cheap alcohol from a coarse wooden cup.

He was a person with ashen-brown hair, dark skin, and thick lips. He had a white scar that seemed to cover his right eye, and present behind the closed eyelid was an artificial replacement eye.

It was not something that could substitute for the eyeball he had lost, but it seemed like something he would be lonely without.

The man’s name was Jawsrough. One of the gladiators who lived on this Gladiator Island, and he was quite the celebrity here. ――According to the rest, he was known as the lone-wolf Jawsrough.

The reason he was called that was not simply because he did not hang out with anybody else.

Jawsrough: [This place’s got the system of Units, where ya gotta trust that strangers’ve got your back, and they also gotta trust that ya got theirs. Together with one another, ya put your lives on the line. That’d also prolly happen when things get desperate. But…]

???: [But?]

Jawsrough: [If the guy whose back ya gotta look out for is a despicable fucking asshole, then what?]

Confronted with a question right after tilting his head, Natsuki Subaru frowned as he began to ponder.

Occupying a small table in a corner of the dining hall on the island, Jawsrough intently glared at the silent Subaru with his yet functioning left eye.

Subaru’s form, reflected in Jawsrough’s single eye, appeared to be only eleven or twelve years young.

If one were to think using normal standards, it was not an age where one could possess an answer to Jawsrough’s question. However, Jawsrough’s gaze had not the light of someone making fun of an ignorant child, nor was it trying to rush Subaru as he pondered; it was merely awaiting a response.

It was likely that hidden under the surface of Jawsrough’s attitude, there were expectations for Subaru.

In that case, he had no choice but to meet those expectations.

Therefore, as Subaru took a breath through his nose,

Subaru: [On this island, there are also criminals who messed up outside of here. Maybe they stole, or killed someone, or violated some rule. And among them…]

Jawsrough: [――――]

Subaru: [There are also guys who did stuff like stealing from women and children, or even killing them. Are they “fucking assholes”?]

Jawsrough: [――. Hey, you forgot to add the “despicable” part.]

At Subaru’s words after he had finished thinking, Jawsrough muttered this as he shifted his gaze to the alcohol in his cup. Subaru had not been so twisted as to take that to mean refusal or rejection.

At Jawsrough’s attitude, Subaru readjusted his posture in his chair and continued.

Subaru: [The kinds of people that you can’t trust with your back. If anything, you wouldn’t even want to see their faces to begin with. Was it because those sorts of guys were abandoned by your Unit, that you ended up all alone?]

Jawsrough: [That’s also incorrect. They weren’t abandoned. They were cut down and discarded.]

Subaru: [From the back…]

Jawsrough: [If it’s a back that ain’t worth looking out for, I’d feel much better just cutting ‘em down right away. Ya wouldn’t be able to say that the same thing won’t end up happening with your comrades either, right?]

Snorting his nose as he gave a cynical smile, Jawsrough tried to continue by saying “That’s why”. Likely, the words that would have followed after were exactly what Subaru was imagining.

If it was exactly what he was imagining, it was a statement that had no need to be said.

Subaru: [I’d be fine with that, then.]

Jawsrough: […What?]

Subaru: [Whenever you like, if you think my back is unworthy to be looked out for, then you can just pretend that I’m big enough so that it’d be okay for you to cut me down. I’ll make sure you won’t regret it through the way that I stand and present my back to you.]

Jawsrough: [――――]

At Subaru’s declaration, Jawsrough opened his eyes wide, and his artificial eye fell out of his right eye socket. Bouncing off the tabletop, it rolled right in front of Subaru. As if he already knew that, Subaru caught it with his right hand, and pinched it with his fingers as he hoisted it before his face.

Then, locking eyes with the wooden eye at point-blank range, he looked past the prosthetic eye towards Jawsrough. As he looked, Subaru’s mouth was engraved with the smile of a mischievous boy, and,

Subaru: [Give up already and become my comrade, Jawsrough. You’re the final gladiator.]

At Subaru’s encouragement as he flashed his teeth, Jawsrough pressed his hand down on his empty right eye socket, while his remaining left eye slightly wavered, and cast its gaze downward.

That was the final show of resistance before the former lone-wolf, Jawsrough, finally returned to the pack.

2

Subaru: [S-somehow I even got Jawsrough to become my comrade… It was a long road…]

With a plop, flopping down onto the hard bed in his room, Subaru put his hand over his face.

Occupying his young body was an enormous sense of exhaustion, along with a sense of pride and accomplishment that could rival or even surpass that.

After all, at the current moment, the total number of gladiators held prisoner on this Gladiator Island was upwards of six hundred―― He had succeeded in making all of those gladiators his allies, and having them enlist in the Natsuki Schwartz Camp.

Subaru: [That really, took a long time…]

With his view obstructed by his hand on his face, Subaru took a long and deep sigh.

Without thinking about the specific amount of gladiators, Subaru had resolved himself to do it as he got back up on his feet upon his restart. From there, he began to fight anew while considering the circumstances of the island and the situations of the gladiators one thing at a time; that struggle of his were such that both the reader, and the narrator, would shed tears upon its recital.

But, while it began to seem like he would drown in those tears, the fact that he never ceased his fluttering kicks as he swam forward had been rewarded.

Thanks to that, he had gotten one step――,

Subaru: [――Closer to painting over that worst possible development.]

Clenching the hand that had been on his face, while a dirty ceiling was reflected in his now open vision, Subaru felt a certain response and reflected upon the progression of the situation.

――This life was Natsuki Subaru’s second lap around the Gladiator Island.

It was not that this was his second time using Return by Death. As far as Return by Death was concerned, it was not on the level of two or three times; the amount of times he had restarted was completely incomparable.

What was meant by the second lap in this situation, was something separate from all his piled up instances of Return by Death, and was a case of turning back time on a much larger scale.

Subaru: [――After all, the way the last lap ended was horrible…]

Flashing through Subaru’s mind as he muttered was an ending of despair, one that merely the word “worst” could never fully express.

It had been an ending where his acquaintances on the island, those who he had mutually recognized as comrades, were slain by a murderous blade one after the other; all the other people on the island experienced a massacre; without preventing that, the starting point of Return by Death continued to fall forwards, and it finally solidified itself as a situation where nobody could be saved anymore.

Originally, it was supposed to have been too late. It was supposed to have been that he could no longer save even a single person.

However, Subaru had refused for it to end in such a way, and so, relying on the being that had bestowed upon him the power to fight against the Deaths that he had faced many times―― relying upon the Witch, he had been granted a final chance.

Once more, returning to the very first day that he was sent to this Gladiator Island, he had been granted the chance to start over on his fight, so that he would never arrive at that hopeless conclusion again.

Subaru was already in the midst of a plan to avert the total annihilation of the Gladiator Island.

For that purpose――,

Subaru: [I will make every single person on this island my comrade.]

Once again, it was an absolutely preposterous plan. But, he had no choice but to see it through.

In the future where the Gladiator Island was completely annihilated, everyone on the island would be in the same boat.

In order to drive away the messengers who bring about that calamity, the unity of everyone was absolutely indispensable.

Then, when he had succeeded in making an ally out of the lone-wolf Jawsrough, who among the gladiators he had been unable to find any clues for how to persuade, Subaru had cleared one of the hurdles in the plan.

Subaru: [Honestly, it feels like a speedrun to earn favorability… in the time loop genre, the protagonist often starts to move efficiently and various things happen, but in reality, things don’t go so smoothly.]

In the various manga and games that Subaru had encountered, there were characters with similar circumstances to Subaru; thinking back on his hardships until now, and about the sheer difference that there would have been in the struggle if he would have swapped places with them, he dropped his shoulders.

Unlike video games, the people Subaru was encountering in reality also had consciousness and emotions, so if he were to undertake the doctrine of efficiency and ignore those emotions, those people would not honestly join hands with him.

For that reason, he had tasted the failure of being unable to construct personal relationships many times, and hence――,

???: [――Basu! Basu! I heard all about it!]

As he thought back on those hardships, a boisterous voice sounded from the front of the room. Then, without hesitation, the voice’s owner forced the door open and burst in wearing a cheerful face.

His blue hair tied behind his head, clad in vibrant pink and blue clothes, was the pretty boy―― Cecilus Segmunt, the problem child of the Gladiator Island who proclaimed himself as the owner of that name.

Cecilus Segmunt was the name of this country’s strongest warrior, and though Subaru generally thought that the boy in front of him was probably the real deal, it was still an unsettled matter, and hence it would continue to be treated as a self-proclamation.

In any case, with quite the delighted face, Cecilus looked upon Subaru on the bed, and――,

Cecilus: [It seems that you’ve finally persuaded Jawsrough-san, now haven’t you!? My my, when Basu first said something like “I’m going to make everyone on the island my comrade”, I was really quite happy with all that big talk, but dear me, I really must say bravo, I’m quite amazed that you’ve come this far!]

Subaru: […Ahh, ummm, is that a congratulations? Ceci…]

Cecilus: [Congratulations? Indeed, it certainly is congratulations! Although there are many gladiators who have come to the Gladiator Island Ginunhive thus far, there’s been nobody who has harbored ambition and aspirations quite like Basu and come so close to realizing them! It’s something that should be extolled as an incredibly great undertaking!]

Subaru: [Then, now at the end, are you going to boast about how powerful your own fate was that you picked me up along the coast?]

Cecilus: [That’s absolutely right! As I was aimlessly and innocently going on one of my occasional walks outside, I ended up picking up Basu. That is the precise evidence of what I possess! Perhaps it’s the basis as to why I am the leading actor of this world!]

Openly singing his own praises, Cecilus gave a smile while feeling good, and Subaru gave a wry smile in return.

Cecilus was firing out a series of words as if he was a machine gun, but surprisingly, he felt no discomfort in being made to listen to those overwhelming words. The person concerned had no hesitation or restraint while speaking, and yet perhaps it was because his choice of words was fair and delicate.

Just as he called himself the leading actor, it seemed that he had the dignity to not speak of things he did not want others to hear.

Cecilus: [Nonetheless, you really shouldn’t be careless, Basu.]

Subaru: [Careless?]

Being told so, Subaru sat up straight on the bed. Then, as Cecilus nodded with a “Yes, indeed”, he thrust his finger at the speed of lightning to the tip of Subaru’s nose.

It was really too fast for even his eyes to perceive, and bad for his heart.

Subaru: [“Careless”, just what am I being careless about?]

Cecilus: [I think that you must certainly feel pretty good about winning nearly all of the gladiators on the island over to your side, but Ginunhive isn’t so easy that your conquest would be completed with only that. It’s an island that has only ever had a single escapee since it first became known as the Gladiator Island.]

Subaru: [Escapee…]

Cecilus: [It’s not something unrelated to you, right? After all, Basu’s objective is to get off of the island.]

Thinking about how he had been rambling on and on, he now cut into the crux of the matter with a brief comment.

Witnessing that good use of conversational arts akin to a combat style, Subaru scratched his cheek. He had hit the bullseye, but until now, Subaru had not spoken even once to Cecilus about something like getting off the island.

Cecilus: [Oya oya it seems like you are quite surprised but it’s a matter of course. After all, if it’s become this much of a rumor across the island, my ears have also happened to hear the leak about Basu’s identity.]

Subaru: [Don’t tell me that the guards also know about this!?]

Cecilus: [Ah, you don’t need to worry about that. I may have gone a little over with the things I just said. What I mean by rumors on the island is merely just within the network of gladiators. Okay?]

Subaru: [OK OK geez, you’re confusing me…]

Because Cecilus had limited the words that he had used to express himself, it almost seemed like Subaru’s plan was about to collapse.

Of course, regarding the topic of Subaru’s “identity” that Cecilus had just brought up, he would make effective use of it against those who controlled this island, but it would be inconvenient if the management had already heard about it.

If they were to hear about it, he would ensure that it would be during the scene where the display would be the utmost effective.

Subaru: [However, I just narrowly escaped it there, but it wouldn’t be strange if it were to slip out sometime…]

Cecilus: [stare~~]

Subaru: [On that point, I guess I should remind everyone to not spread the rumor, and…]

Cecilus: [stare~~, stare~~]

Subaru: […What is it, Ceci? Your stare and emphasis are really noisy.]

Subaru had placed his hand to his chin as he pondered, and Cecilus had given an intense stare to his side-profile. He had even gone out of his way to add emphasis to the intensity of his stare by using vocalizing onomatopoeia, but upon seeing Subaru’s frowning reaction, Cecilus let out a “No no no!” as he began to exaggeratedly wave his hands around, and,

Cecilus: [You are quite seemingly looking straight ahead to the future but you are still neglecting that which is under your very feet, Basu! Don’t you understand? I only said nearly all of the island’s gladiators. Isn’t there a difference between nearly all and all? That should be doubtless!]

Subaru: [Yep, I do know that though.]

Cecilus: [So then so then so then! That stubborn lone-wolf Jawsrough-san may have certainly been quite the formidable obstacle, but even he was nothing more than an opening act that served as a prelude to the main event! You shouldn‘t be forgetting such an obvious fact!]

Subaru: [Yep, I also know that.]

While listening to Cecilus, who used up the entirety of his lung capacity each time he spoke, Subaru turned his head back when Cecilus unusually made one or two valid points.

Indeed, securing Jawsrough had been a large step for the sake of Subaru’s objective, but he was only one of the hurdles which Subaru had to overcome, not the entirety of the obstacles.

At Subaru’s answer and expression of determination, Cecilus slightly widened his eyes.

From there, his cheeks eased into a very delighted look.

Cecilus: [Is that so now, is that so? In that case, what do you intend to do next?]

Subaru: [Well, I’ll just say that a secret is a secret for now, and that it’s something I want to discuss with everyone. In regards to the main event of this island, we’ll also go into more detail about that during that conversation.]

Cecilus: [Fufufu, I see, I see, you’re building to the climax. But alas! No matter how much advanced preparations and war arrangements you make, the height of the wall that is the main event is not something you can be so sure of!]

Putting his hands in the sleeves of his kimono, Cecilus flapped the fabric around as he felt elated with triumph.

Cecilus had devoted himself to preaching about the greatest enemy, the thing known as carelessness, and giving a nod to his manner of speaking, Subaru got up off of the bed and headed towards the hallway.

Then――,

???: [――Schwartz-sama, everyone is currently gathered in the dining hall.]

With that, greeting Subaru as he exited the room was a young girl, clad in a kimono different to the one worn by Cecilus. Out of her head grew two splendid horns, and she was a deergirl of the same generation as the current Subaru, Tanza.

Tanza had a reason to survive through this Gladiator Island, where she had been sent off to together with Subaru. Giving that cooperative young girl a large grin, Subaru gave her a pat on the shoulder and let out a “Got it”,

Subaru: [Well then, shall we begin? ――Conquest of the Gladiator Island, Final Stage.]

Such had been the manner of his declaration to both Tanza and Cecilus.

３

Hiain: [Yo, bro, we’re all good to go whenever you are. So when are we gonna begin? ――The simultaneous uprising, where we’ll seize full control of the island!]

As Subaru arrived at the dining hall, waiting for him at their usual table was the lizardman―― Hiain, who gave a big wave of his hands, and dropped such a bombshell announcement in a loud voice.

He was scared of this information getting out; such a thought unconsciously discouraged the resolve which Subaru had just settled in front of his room, but Hiain, carefree as he was, received a hard bash to the back of his head from somebody.

Screaming out a “Gyaaaargh!” Hiain cowered as he embraced his own head. The one clenching their own fist behind him was a man who had skeleton-like tattoos over his body, Weitz.

While wearing an angered expression that amplified the fierce look he had from his tattoos,

Weitz: [Stop incessantly blathering on with that loud voice, ya lizard bastard… Think about Schwartz’s position…!]

Hiain: [S-still, that ain’t something ya should hit me over! It really ain’t!]

Weitz: [If that were true, then I would’ve had to slit yer throat there…]

Hiain: [The fuck’s wrong with ya, asshole!?]

Receiving a glare from Weitz as he spoke in a hushed voice, Hiain glared right back at him, speaking in a loud voice.

There were many times when these two, who could not get along no matter what, would quarrel and glare at each other in this way.

Idra: [Good grief, the more you two cause a ruckus like that, the more attention you’re going to attract. That would probably be much more bothersome for Schwartz.]

Ignoring the quarreling duo and giving a wry smile was the other person seated at their table, Idra. Stroking his beard, he pat his hand on the chair next to his own, and,

Idra: [Schwartz, come and sit. I’m no Hiain, but I was hoping to speak with you.]

Subaru: [Yeah, I also intended to do just that. Tanza, next to me. Ceci, if you’re gonna be noisy, go over there. If you can be quiet, then feel free to sit with us.]

Cecilus: [To tell me to be quiet is a rather futile effort but I suppose it’ll have to do. I’d much rather stay silent than not be able to be present for the conversation beyond this point.]

Giving a very long and drawn out explanation, Cecilus seated himself at the edge of the table. Ascertaining that, Subaru seated himself next to Idra, and next to him sat Tanza.

Even Hiain and Weitz, who were wrangling, upon seeing Subaru and the rest take their seats, had no choice but to cease their dispute, and sit at the table.

And then――,

Hiain: [――So, when are we gonna do it? I said it earlier, but everyone is good to go.]

Weitz: [Lizard bastard…]

Hiain: [What the hell! I’m talkin’ in a really quiet voice, the hell did I do wrong!?]

Despite lowering his voice, Hiain received a death stare from Weitz upon digging up the topic from just earlier. Just when it seemed like those two were about to go at it for a second round, Subaru extended his arms out and exclaimed “Wait!”.

To begin with, it would be futile for the two of them to begin fighting here.

In any case――,

Subaru: [Sorry for getting you all fired up, but we won’t be doing a simultaneous uprising. For all the gladiators to seize control of the island, and for us to be its rulers… that’s not what I desire, after all.]

Hiain: [Ngha!?]

Weitz: [What…?]

When clearly told that they had misunderstood their course of action, naturally Hiain, and even Weitz, who ought to have been opposed to the former, both widened their eyes in surprise.

Somehow, even though he had rebuked Hiain’s hasty conduct, it seemed that Weitz had also believed without a doubt that their course of action was to seize control of the island by brute force.

Subaru: [Well, I guess it really would be a strategy befitting of violent gladiators, but…]

Tanza: [There would be no chance of victory. Have the two of you forgotten? The Governor of this island, Gustav Morello-sama, has imposed a Curse Rule over us.]

Hiain: [Ghk…!]

Subaru deepened his wry smile, and to his side, Tanza voiced her astonishment while remaining expressionless.

Upon hearing what the little girl had pointed out, Hiain’s throat clogged up, and Weitz also made a bitter face.

――The Curse Rule was something that bound the prisoners of the Gladiator Island, chains of a curse invisible to the eye.

If the Curse Rule were to be violated, the lives of the gladiators would be taken without mercy. And, the one who imposed that Curse Rule over everyone was the Island Chief, Governor Gustav Morello.

If he ever felt the need to do so, he could completely annihilate the gladiators of the Gladiator Island in the blink of an eye. If he was able to specify the target of the Curse Rule, it would be easy for him to destroy only the ones participating in the insurrection.

Tanza: [As long as that Curse Rule is not dispelled, seizing control of the island is a dream within a dream. Do the two of you now understand just how thoughtless the things you have been saying are?]

Weitz: [Tch…]

Hiain languidly slumped his upper body on the table, and Weitz folded his arms as he clicked his tongue in displeasure. Though, the most important thing was that both of them understood the gravity of the matter at hand.

Idra: [However, even if you were to go through the trouble of making all the island’s gladiators your allies, the moment the Governor suspects you, we’re all done for. I doubt that your desire is just to be the king of the hill, Schwartz.]

Subaru: [As expected, Idra is quite astute.]

At that comment, Subaru snapped his fingers, and Idra snorted slightly and relaxed his lips.

Just as Idra had pointed out, if they did not do anything about the Curse Rule, then Subaru’s position would come to an end at becoming king of the hill. But, Subaru’s objective lay outside the island. To be more precise, it was to make every single person on the Gladiator Island into his ally, and then escape with them off of the island.

That was the exact conclusion of the Gladiator Island Volume that Subaru was planning.

Cecilus: [But but it’s certainly that y’know. There’s a promising chance that Basu could possibly even pluck off that Curse Rule and run straight through, right?]

Subaru: [Ceci, you promised to keep your mouth shut.]

Cecilus: [Excuse me excuse me. It’s just that, y’know, I don’t think that Basu’s true intention is to go out of his way to make all of his esteemed allies all anxious about this thing and that, isn’t that right?]

While tapping the table with two of his fingers, Cecilus mocked their meeting in such a way.

At Cecilus’s remark and attitude, Hiain and the rest of them all looked at Subaru with unpleasant faces. Even Subaru could guess what the intention of those gazes were, but the one to clearly put it into words was Tanza.

Just like the other three, the unease she felt in what Cecilus had said emerged within her eyes, and,

Tanza: [Schwartz-sama, um, are you sane to be doing this with Cecilus-sama?]

Subaru: [If you ask about my sanity rather than just if I’m serious, then at that point, I’d want to deny it no matter what you’re asking.]

Tanza: [I sincerely apologize. It was an unintentional slip of the tongue. Are you seriously doing this with Cecilus-sama?]

Tanza had wanted to ask if his strategy depended on Cecilus, and as if supporting her question, the rest of the Unit put intensity into their gazes.

While under the gazes of those four, as well as Cecilus’s self-confident gaze, Subaru breathed a sigh, and,

Subaru: [No? In my strategy to somehow deal with the Curse Rule, I’m not thinking about getting help from Ceci.]

Cecilus: [Yes yes indeed for my time on stage to finally come around here, it will be showtime for the main performer and WAIT WHAT DID YOU SAY!?]

Subaru: [I mean, what would be the point if only Ceci escaped from the Curse Rule? That wouldn’t be a solution to the problem at all, now would it?]

In the time of a single breath, Cecilus had stood up on the table, tried to put on a show, and was then taken aback. From his position, he examined Subaru’s expression, but Subaru poked his nose and caused him to back down.

Cecilus had been roaring down a mistaken highway since before they came to the dining hall, but unfortunately for him, it was impossible that Subaru, having gone as far as making Jawsrough into his ally, would set his next objective to be Cecilus.

For Cecilus in particular, he had intended on preparing the right situation, but――,

Weitz: [In that case, what in the world do ya plan on doing, Schwartz?]

Subaru: [About the Curse Rule?]

Weitz: [Yeah… As much as it annoys me, the fake warrior has a point… If you’re unable to overcome the Governor’s Curse Rule, then ya won’t…]

Subaru: [Hm?]

Weitz: [Then ya won’t be able to meet with yer father, His Excellency the Emperor…]

He had a grave expression and heavy tone, however what Weitz spoke of was quite admirable.

Subaru: [――――]

In an instant, Subaru smiled at Weitz’s words, and then took a deep breath.

It was not just Weitz; both Hiain and Idra, perhaps also Cecilus, who was not particularly interested, as well as the considerable number of gladiators, all would have had this misunderstanding. ――That Subaru was the illegitimate child of the Emperor that had become a popular topic of conversation all around the Empire.

The rumored existence of a black-haired Crown Prince was certainly in the process of spreading throughout the Vollachian Empire, and it had become the core of the budding rebellion; it was said that he was plotting to usurp the Imperial Throne from the current Emperor.

Moreover, the existence of Subaru, who displayed actions on this Gladiator Island unsuited to his age, was suspected by everyone to be the very person rumored as the black-haired Crown Prince.

Thus――,

Subaru: [That’s right. I also wanna give my shitty old man a strong punch to the gut.]

Intentionally not clearing up that misunderstanding, Subaru utilized it as a proactive means to grasp the hearts of the people on the island.

He felt ashamed about deceiving the people of his Unit, whom he was quite close with; but initially, it was they who had started to suspect Subaru of being the black-haired Crown Prince, and so it was something quite convenient in convincing them.

For the other gladiators, too, the establishment of being the Emperor’s illegitimate child was favorable for quite a few people. So, at least until they left Ginunhive, he had no intention of revealing the truth.

However――,

Tanza: [――――]

Silent and motionless, Tanza examined Subaru’s side-profile. She was the only person who knew that Subaru was not really the illegitimate child of the Emperor, and understood Subaru’s lie.

Even if most of their time in contact with each other was as members of the Unit, they had known each other from Chaosflame before coming to the island. He thought that to her, it would be difficult to pretend that he was the Emperor’s illegitimate child, and above all else, leaving aside logic and efficiency, he just did not want to lie to Tanza.

After all, the chance for a second lap being granted to Subaru was thanks to the fact that in that world approaching a hopeless conclusion, Tanza had snuggled close to him until the very end of the end.

At any rate――,

Hiain: [W-well, in the end, what are we gonna do? Nobody’s gonna go rioting. But we ain’t givin’ up in frustration either. So then, what do we do?]

Cecilus: [That’s absolutely right just what do you plan on doing I wonder!? Isn’t it just a little too underhanded to boast while showing everyone your dreams and having no actual plan? Basu doesn’t seem to understand just how much of an injury it will be to bear on the hearts of those who will have their hopes completely betrayed!]

Subaru: [It seems like you’re trying to condemn me on the same vector as Hiain, but what you’re saying is an entirely different thing. First and foremost, I haven’t said a single thing about including you in my plan, Ceci.]

Cecilus: [Stupid Basu!]

With a hop, he jumped off the table, and while leaving behind a childish remark, Cecilus, just like the wind―― with a speed that was truly just like the wind, he rushed out of the dining hall.

Seeing his back leave like a storm, Subaru sighed. Then, he turned back around to the faces of the people who were waiting to resume the conversation.

Tanza: [So then, Schwartz-sama, concerning the Curse Rule…]

Subaru: [Yep, if we don’t do something about the Curse Rule, nobody will be able to leave the island. Therefore, let’s make him an ally.]

Weitz: [An ally…? Just who in the world…?]

Upon first listening, thinking that it meant somebody who possessed extraordinary power, Weitz’s gaze searched for Cecilus’s back at the entrance of the dining hall after the latter had just rushed out.

But, Subaru forced a smile, and prefacing his next words with “Ah, that’s not it”, he spoke.

Subaru: [I’m talking about Gustav-san.]

Weitz: […What?]

At Subaru’s words, the companions of his Unit frowned, thinking that they had misheard him.

It was unavoidable that they would think that way. After all, that was the big boss of Gladiator Island’s management; someone who was known by everyone for his rigid style of work, and as an embodiment of unbending loyalty towards the Empire.

Even so, if he was going to surmount the Curse Rule, this could not be avoided.

Hence, for the second time now, Subaru bluntly declared.

Subaru: [I’ll do something about the Curse Rule. For that purpose, I’m gonna win Gustav-san over as our comrade.]

Thus he declared.

４

――Governor of the Gladiator Island Ginunhive, Gustav Morello.

A member of the Multi-Arm Tribe who possessed four burly arms, wearing a uniform that tightly wrapped around his large body of two and a half meters, he was a tough-looking gentleman who had his hair carefully combed back.

His expression and speech were strict, but he was not someone who could not be communicated with or understood, and Subaru’s impression was that he was one of the exceedingly rare adults who was sensible in the Vollachian Empire.

But then again, he was very strict with rules, and Subaru had an even stronger impression that he would not allow their distance to be closed, so there was no doubt that he was going to be a formidable enemy in the sense of this conquest.

Subaru: [Even so, it’s necessary that we secure Gustav-san.]

Of course, the existence of the Curse Rule was a large reason for Subaru’s stubborn thinking.

If they did not surmount the Curse Rule that punished those who violated the rules and robbed them of their very lives, then the gladiators cooperating with Subaru would be unable to escape annihilation, and in the end, they would arrive at the conclusion of the massacre.

Even supposing they had some sort of method to nullify the Curse Rule, Subaru did not wish for the lives of Gustav and his guards to be taken in an armed uprising by the gladiators.

Subaru did not like the Vollachian Empire, nor did he like this Gladiator Island, but he had no intention of turning an irrational abhorrence to the people carrying out their professional duties as soldiers and guards.

Subaru: [Prisoners are bullied and ridiculed by guards, that sort of development is a cliché in fiction, but so far I haven’t heard about anything like that here.]

He thought that it was likely not limited to just fiction, but such a structure of violent control born out of difference in positions was not something that had materialized on this island. These circumstances were also tightened by Gustav’s thorough enforcement of control and discipline, and the embodiment of his leadership as Governor.

Long story short, if he could secure Gustav, then he would not have to win over each guard one by one; rather, it was quite likely that they would all become his allies at once.

Subaru: [In that case, there’s no reason not to do it, right?]

Tanza: [I understand what you are saying, but…]

As Subaru presented the extent of the merits that would come with the acquisition of Gustav, Tanza made a troubled face as she covered her mouth with her hand.

Now, they had moved out of the dining hall, and were on one of the lookout platforms overlooking the island.

They were relatively free to move around the Gladiator Island when not participating in a show, but this lookout platform was quite the popular spot among the gladiators. It was difficult to see the prisoner tower from here, and by feeling even the slightest bit closer to the sky, they could get the hallucination of freedom. It was a rather popular trick.

Subaru: [The reason for the trick is way too sincere…]

Tanza: [That alone is enough to show that everybody here is starved for freedom. That is precisely why they all have such high expectations of Schwartz-sama. The black-haired Crown Prince… Although that is merely a fabrication.]

Subaru: [Don’t say that so clearly… You don’t know if anyone is listening in from behind, after all.]

Tanza: [Unlike Hiain-sama, I am quite careful.]

While nonchalantly dissing Hiain, Tanza, with a composed face, looked far out into the distance―― to the opposite side of the lake, she thought nostalgically of the world beyond that shore.

From Ginunhive, completely surrounded by the lake, the outside world could not be seen. For both Subaru and Tanza, their respective concerns and interests lay beyond the far shore of the lake. Subaru understood her impatient feelings to a painful extent.

The ripples of the young girl’s emotions were hard to see, but Subaru understood just how much her heart was burning.

Tanza: […So, what do you intend on doing?]

Subaru: [――! Will you help me confront him?]

Tanza: [Just like everybody else, I possess strong feelings to give up on this. However, after spending just a few days with you, I have come to understand that Schwartz-sama is not very good at giving up.]

At Tanza’s words, dropping her shoulders as if to say “It cannot be helped”, Subaru gave a wry smile and scratched his head.

Though what had emerged on his face had the nuance of a wry smile, he was truly happy from the bottom of his heart to have this kind of reinforcement.

After all, he had told Hiain, Weitz, and Idra about his plan to turn Gustav into an ally, but the three of them had simultaneously drooped to the conclusion that it was “impossible” and dispersed.

To be precise, they had the flavors of “Ya gotta cool yer head”, “There are things you can do, and things you can’t do” and “Leave it to me, I’ll peel Gustav’s skin off and use it to impersonate him…”, but no result was yielded from having them as comrades.

Subaru: [On that point, Tanza is earnestly worried for my sake! I love it!]

Tanza: […As expected, are you perhaps urging me to reconsider abandoning you?]

Subaru: [Wait wait wait wait wait, my bad. But, since you really are worrying, idea please.]

Tanza: [aideea…]

Regurgitating that broken English, Tanza cast her large irises slightly downward, and,

Tanza: [First of all, we should plainly inform him that all of the gladiators now follow us, and use the difference in war potential as a shield in negotiations. How does that sound?]

Subaru: [I’m gonna have to say, nope. In Gustav-san’s case, the moment he understands that we’re conspiring and planning something, it seems like he’ll use the Curse Rule to punish us.]

Giving an answer to Tanza’s suggestion, Subaru recalled his last lap, where faces he had not wanted to remember had visited the Gladiator Island as messengers, and from there began arguing back and forth with Gustav.

The messengers were concerned about the threat of the people of the island causing domestic trouble, and suggested that the gladiators should all be disposed of at once, but Gustav had stubbornly refused to do so. That was not because he was backing the gladiators, but because of the sense of professional duty Gustav himself possessed.

At that time, it was just that Gustav did not follow the proposal to serve punishment based on mere doubts. The moment that suspicion would turn to confidence, Subaru did not think that Gustav would hesitate in utilizing the Curse Rule.

Subaru: [If we bluntly negotiate with armed might, there’s a low chance that Gustav-san won’t use the Curse Rule. That’s why, it’s a no.]

Tanza: [I sincerely apologize. It appears that I have been unable to be of use to Schwartz-sama.]

Subaru: [You’re done already!? Why does it feel like so many of the girls in this world tend to go for the brute force approach!?]

At Tanza’s apology, as she bowed her head from which her deer horns sprouted, Subaru deplored the heavens for the abundance of such carnivorous women.

To begin with, even though deer were supposed to be herbivores, this was the way Tanza had approached things. Just why was it that each woman he met, such as Medium and the Shudraq, were all predisposed to brute force?

Subaru: [Maybe Rem and Yorna-san are the exceptions… Nah, aren’t those two also relatively inclined to using brute force?]

Even though she lacked the ability to move due to her legs, Rem was also relatively the brute force type. Yorna too, who had performed explosive axe kicks to the Castle, could ultimately be said to be inclined towards brute force.

Tanza: [If you are speaking ill of Yorna-sama, I shall not forgive you.]

Subaru: [I’m not speaking ill of her, these are just my idle grumbles… Anyway, the fact that you’re helping me out does make me really happy, Tanza.]

Tanza: [――. Yes.]

With a small nod, even if Tanza could not provide advice, she had agreed to help.

To be honest, Tanza’s presence was both physically and mentally dependable for the current Subaru. In addition, it was Subaru’s duty to meet her expectations and her faith in him as she stayed by his side.

Tanza: [So then, in the end, what do you intend on doing?]

With that, coming full circle back around to the same question, Subaru suddenly looked up to the sky.

What would he do, the answer to Tanza’s question was――,

Subaru: [First and foremost, I’d like to get to know him a bit better.]

Tanza: [Eh?]

Indifferent to the feelings of Subaru and everyone else present below it was the detestable blue sky, now revealed as the clouds slightly cleared up. Glaring at it as he spoke, Subaru’s words caused Tanza to gaze in wonder.

And then――,

???: [――Kept you waiting, Schwartz.]

Hearing that stern voice fall upon his ears from a place much closer to the sky than he was, Subaru lowered his gaze down. Next to him, Tanza’s small body tensed up, and unrest also began to spread throughout the other gladiators present on the lookout platform.

That was a matter of course. After all, it was a rather rare occurrence for that man to visit the lookout platform.

Governor of the Gladiator Island Ginunhive, Gustav Morello; that very person.

Subaru: [Glad you could make it here, Gustav-san.]

Tanza: [Schwartz-sama!! Did you call the Governor here!?]

Subaru: [That’s right. I made an appointment, since it wouldn’t do any harm.]

Tanza raised her voice nervously, and Subaru calmly nodded as he responded to her question.

Taking dignified steps towards those two, the large figure, so tall that even if the pair of these little children got on each other’s shoulders they would not meet its eye level, approached them.

Crossing his four burly arms, Gustav unintentionally cast a shadow over Subaru and Tanza, and then,

Gustav: [As the official, I am not here on free time. To summon me here so casually is quite the inconvenience.]

Subaru: [This is far from the likes of a whim. I summoned you fully prepared for you to get angry with me. If I really was summoning you casually, I would have told you to bring a lunchbox and invited you on a picnic.]

Gustav: [Whether it be you, Tanza, or Segmunt, it is quite the strange disposition for young individuals to have such nerves of steel.]

Tanza: […Though, I find it unpleasant to be evaluated on the same level as those two.]

While still maintaining her feelings of tension in front of Gustav, she interjected upon hearing a comment that she could not ignore.

Although, he thought that her attitude completely supported what Gustav had just said about their nerves, and Subaru also thought that unlike himself on this second lap, her nerves were a natural thing, and hence she was quite dependable.

Anyhow――,

Subaru: [Even though you’re busy with work, I’m happy that you found a moment to spare.]

Gustav: [In a sense, you are currently in the position that attracts the most attention on the Gladiator Island. Even more so than Segmunt, who boasts an oppressive strength that allows none to approach him.]

Subaru: [Is that so? If I may say so myself, I think his fighting style shouldn’t be displayed in front of an uncouth audience.]

Gustav: [Naturally, he has not had as many chances as you to display that fighting style before others.]

Although his voice held neither anger nor astonishment, Gustav flatly declared thus.

As Subaru scratched his cheek, Gustav began to move his large mouth, which was made more fierce by the two fangs that protruded from it, and then,

Gustav: [Do not tell me that you intend on keeping this up? Participating in every Sparka that opens, and putting your life on the line to help fight for the survival of other gladiators.]

Indeed, the reason why Gustav had responded to Subaru’s summons; to ask a question regarding a situation which he held doubts about.

Participating in Sparka―― That was, on this second lap around the Gladiator Island, the greatest contribution to Subaru making many gladiators into his allies. All of the gladiators were made to fight against a Witchbeast known as a Gladiator Beast in the name of Sparka, and they needed to risk their lives in order to be victorious.

That which was most feared on this island, but at the same time, that which was the best way to demonstrate the way of being of an Imperial Citizen; making use of those as opportunities, Subaru had gained the respect and trust of the gladiators.

However――,

Gustav: [As the official, I have also learned the ways of the warrior in the past. I did not become a fully-fledged combattant, but I believe I have developed an eye for talent. Speaking from that point of view, Schwartz, the fact that you have survived all of the Sparkas that you have participated in until today was nothing more than merely treading on thin ice.]

Subaru: [――――]

Gustav: [If you mess up one small thing. Or rather, if you fail to account for one small thing, your life shall be lost. In my capacity, I’ve encountered gladiators with various opinions on life and death, but your methods are devoid of all reason.]

Analyzing Subaru’s completely reckless fighting style, Gustav firmly concluded.

That judgment of Gustav’s was accurate. In reality, Subaru had participated in Sparka many times, but it was not as if Subaru’s presence had considerably lowered the danger of Sparka.

Were it Cecilus who was participating, he would instantly kill the Gladiator Beast and distort the way of Sparka, and Gustav and the rest of the management would not be able to let it go without imposing some type of penalty.

Subaru: [But, that would be unreasonable for my way of fighting. Each time, I’m fighting for my dear life, after all.]

Gustav: [It is very apparent that you are not acting. The fact that many of the gladiators are in a frenzy about your fights, is for no other reason than because they understand that you stand upon the same level ground that they do, and face battle.]

Tanza: [After all, Schwartz-sama does not allow for my participation…]

As Tanza cast her eyes down and muttered so, Subaru felt a stinging sensation pierce him. But, if he were to accept Tanza’s help, then Subaru, weak as he was, would begin to desire her help.

There would be no meaning in that. ――The trust of the gladiators was something that Subaru had to win on his own.

Gustav: [Your streak of good fortune shall not last long. Shortly, perhaps even the very next time, your fortune shall be severed.]

Subaru: [Is that a declaration that Gustav-san will directly send in a super powerful Gladiator Beast?]

Gustav: [It is merely a rule of thumb. Misfortune is something that approaches under the guise of good fortune. Certainly, it is something that you should take to heart. ――In my capacity, I also believe that it would be regrettable for you to die.]

Subaru was surprised at Gustav’s unexpected words, and Tanza also widened her eyes. As usual, Gustav’s scary face did not allow for his emotions to leak through, but it did not seem like what he said had been a lie. Strangely enough, in their peculiar relationship which could not be labeled as friends or foes, he had faith that Gustav would not lie.

Subaru: [Gustav-san, why are you the Governor of the island?]

Gustav: [How abrupt.]

Subaru: [Is that so? Originally, I just called Gustav here today because I wanted to talk about this and that. Or, perhaps you already have to go back?]

Gustav: [――――]

Subaru: [By the way, since you’re always soldiering on and persevering, doing work at your desk, getting a suitable amount of breaks by changing pace can produce more efficient results while working. It was proven in a research study done in California.]

Gustav: [In my capacity, that is not a word that I know. Incidentally, have you been teaching those words to Segmunt recently?]

Subaru: [In Ceci’s case, it’s not that I’ve been teaching him, it’s just that he’s been absorbing them on his own.]

Clearing up those false accusations, Subaru asked “So then, how about it?” to ascertain if Gustav had any intention of continuing this conversation.

Upon hearing Subaru’s question, after a brief silence, Gustav spoke,

Gustav: [In my capacity, the reason that I accepted the occupation of Governor was none other than because I had received a direct command from His Excellency the Emperor, Vincent Vollachia.]

With that, he began to recite his story up until today, the tale of Gustav Morello.

5

Gustav: [Originally, in my capacity, I was treated as the odd one out, even in my own tribe. This was because there are many in the Multi-Arm Tribe who are predisposed towards violence, and that trait was uncharacteristic of myself, in my capacity.]

Among the wide variety of demi-human races, the special trait of the Multi-Arm Tribe was quite easy to understand at a glance.

They were born with an average of four to six arms, and since those arms were able to wield weapons and tools, there was no need to speak of just how useful they were in war. Be that as it may, it was because the activities of the Eight-Arms, born of the Multi-Arm Tribe, had been propagated that the warriors of the tribe came to be known as powerful.

The existence of the Eight-Arms, having gained fame as a warrior of the Vollachian Empire, brought hope to his fellow members of the Multi-Arm Tribe, and many of his brethren rushed toward the battlefield, and with more arms than the other races, they brandished their weapons.

Gustav: [In my capacity, I was not drunk on that same fervor. While my brethren were charmed by the valor and glory that awaited them on the battlefield, I was far more suited to enjoying books, raising livestock, and protecting our homes. In my capacity, my brethren lambasted me as a coward, but not once have I felt ashamed.]

The fervor of the Eight-Arms ran rampant within the tribe before Gustav had been born. His father and grandfather, his siblings and friends, all of them dreamt of the battlefield, but for Gustav, it had not been so.

Blood was spilled, arms were severed; instead of granting their dreams, fate had decided that their dreams would fleetingly scatter upon the battlefield―― It seemed to him that becoming a warrior was nothing more than approaching a death of futility.

Gustav: [It is not that I fear death. What I fear, in my capacity, is that my death shall bring about nothing. I wanted to avoid the situation where my life would be expended, lost as a futile and meaningless death.]

His father and grandfather and siblings and friends had all expended their lives as futile and meaningless deaths, losing their lives without reaching the status of a legend like the Eight-Arms.

He did not think that his own thoughts were correct, nor did he think that those who had died were mistaken, but since Gustav had survived, those of his tribe began to treat him all the more harshly. Since everyone’s loved ones had died, but the person who was supposed to be lambasted as a coward had remained alive, they could not go without harboring hateful feelings towards him.

Gustav had accepted that as something unavoidable.

However――,

Gustav: [My village, having lost many of my brethren, was attacked by bandits. They were thinking that all of the men had died on the battlefield, and only the women and children remained.]

The bandits had thought correctly; Gustav’s tribe did not have many ways to resist.

Houses were burned, belongings were plundered, women and children were killed for sport, and there was nothing they could do to stop it. The only man who had not gone to the battlefield, only Gustav fought against the enemy; the man of the Multi-Arm Tribe who hated the battlefield, and had kept away from swinging weapons, stood no chance, and his resistance was immediately suppressed.

Then, unable to do a single thing, Gustav was about to be decapitated, but――,

Gustav: [――Just before my life, in my capacity, came to an end, a gust of wind wedged its way through.]

The man who had raised his axe to cut off Gustav’s head, his own neck was sliced by the wind in the blink of an eye; the bodies of all the surrounding bandits were also cut down in quick succession.

Then, when the wind stopped, those who survived were only Gustav, and just a few of his fellow tribes-people. The bandits were all slain with not a single one left standing, and only a pool of their blood remained on the grassland.

Before Gustav, astonished as he was, appeared a lone man who had accompanied that wind.

Gustav: [The man, who from my perspective in my capacity, was of small build, spoke thus: “For what reason is a member of the Multi-Arm Tribe, of whom many have died upon the battlefield, currently on these lands where women and children have been killed?” And so, I answered to the best of my capacity: “I did not go to the battlefield. Because fighting and war are both things I detest.”]

Judging from the bloody situation they were placed in, that had been an impudent dialogue unbefitting the scene. But, his brain numb from the overwhelming circumstances, it was not a situation in which Gustav could ascertain the proper judgment.

Therefore, that was the dialogue that had formed, and the man, receiving an answer to his question, surveyed their surroundings, and,

Gustav: [The man said this: “I am of the same opinion.” Then, he said that he would grant me, in my capacity, the right to decide what would happen to the survivors and the ringleader of the bandits.]

According to the man accompanied by wind, it was a feudal lord of the surrounding area who was behind the bandit attack.

In order to ensure that the influential tribes living in his domain did not possess too much power, the feudal lord habitually dressed up his private army as bandits and carried out the act of culling; this time, the target of the culling was the Multi-Arm Tribe.

Gustav: [They had already taken the mastermind feudal lord captive. The man ordered me, in my capacity, to pass a verdict. Though he had been arrested, the feudal lord had not lost his dignity, and had preserved his vigor, but behind all that, I perceived that he harbored fear towards death. Therefore, in my capacity, I――]

Told to pass a verdict, Gustav did not kill the feudal lord.

Holding a weapon where he stood, he had been granted the opportunity for retribution by means of violence; retribution for the insult his brethren’s deaths being used, and retribution for the contemptible attack on his village. But, Gustav refused that opportunity.

Instead of death, Gustav decided to levy hard labor upon the feudal lord, and witnessing his decision, the surviving tribes-people shouted their objections. However, the man respected that Gustav did not distort his will.

Thus, he spoke.

Man: [Work under mine command, Gustav Morello. Your way of being may be seen as spineless, but I do not think that way. On these vast lands of the Empire, where strength is esteemed, your dignity shall be kept.]

Gustav: [Henceforth, in my capacity, I was given patronage. As I carried out my duties, I received opportunities to increase my court rank, and was granted the position of High Count. Then, on the day I was granted the position of High Count, the man―― His Excellency the Emperor, directly ordered me to work as the Governor of the Gladiator Island.]

The peaceful reign of the Emperor, Vincent Vollachia, was close at hand; but then again, he was neither in a position similar to that of the Nine Divine Generals nor the Imperial Prime Minister, so it was not as though he had been able to continue watching the Emperor’s capability while near him.

However, Vincent had shown Gustav a face, and told Gustav words, all of which were unknown to anybody else; so, though it was a matter of course, he had the self-confidence to accept it more deeply than anybody else possibly could.

The wisest Emperor had entrusted Gustav with a great duty, and sent him to the Gladiator Island. Thus, with recognition for his great obligation and his way of being in his heart, Gustav had no choice but to fulfill his professional duties to perfection.

Unmistakably, that very thing was――,

Gustav: [――The reason why I, in my capacity as the official, carry out my professional duties on this Gladiator Island.]

6

Under the blue sky on the lookout platform, the contents of the story Gustav had told them definitely did not suit the mood of the sunlight passing through the trees. Rather than a refreshing breeze passing over a lake, the wind of a bloody battlefield would be far more suited to that tale.

Gustav’s attitude, his complexion, and his detached expression all remained unchanged, and Subaru breathed a long sigh, then,

Subaru: [You spoke a lot more candidly than I thought you would…]

Gustav: [Was it not you who inquired about the reason as to why I, in my capacity, assumed my professional duties, Schwartz? As the official, I intend to answer all questions as sincerely as possible.]

Subaru: [I don’t doubt your sincerity. Well, I never doubted your sincerity to begin with.]

Deeds such as lying or deceit were far beyond the person known as Gustav.

After all, if there was something he could not speak about, he clearly stated that he could not speak about it. He was completely divorced from the sort of dishonesty where one would try to smooth things over with lies and falsehoods, all the while fabricating suitable details.

Nonetheless, as he had said, he did not expect Gustav to speak this candidly.

Subaru: […Since you were rescued by His Excellency the Emperor, you pledged allegiance to him?]

Gustav: [That is not so. Strictly speaking, the one who rescued me, in my capacity, was the Blue Lightning, who was present by the Emperor’s side. If you want the reason for my debt of gratitude, perhaps it is because, as the official, my position would have been very different to what it is now.]

Tanza: [Blue Lightning…]

Making a troubled face, Tanza muttered after hearing those very words. It was an alias which Subaru had also heard of, but it had become complicated, and since the course of the conversation was changing, he decided to ignore it for the time being.

Subaru: [So then, is the reason for your loyalty because he respected your way of life?]

Gustav: [I have reluctance to declarations of emotions. Therefore, I shall refuse to give a response.]

Subaru: […That’s exactly what I’d expect from Gustav-san.]

Gustav had expressed both the nature he had expected, and the reply he had expected.

For Subaru, there would not be anything that could surprise him from here on, but the appearance of a retainer who truly idolized the Emperor―― truly idolized Abel, would make this the second person after Zikr. He really could not understand their feelings, but there was a good amount of people who had pledged their allegiance to Abel, not because they were following those around them, but because they had arrived at that conclusion on their own.

Gustav was one of those people, and that which he was ordered to do was――,

Subaru: [――In preparation for the emergency, to train the gladiators in both body and mind, wasn’t it?]

Gustav: […It is not something I keep hidden, but how are you aware of that? It has not been long since you came to the island, so although there may be room for you to have a few suspicions of me, as the official…]

Subaru: [It’s something like “walls have ears, and doors have eyes” and “doors can’t get in the way of spreading rumors”.]

He could not tell whether or not Gustav understood those expressions, so chalking it up to Gustav’s inability to be dishonest, Subaru said “Leaving that aside” to change the topic through sheer force.

That which the Emperor had ordered Gustav to do, a duty that he would not yield even if he received a signed decree from the Prime Minister, that was――,

Subaru: [The event of an emergency, don’t you think that the current situation, where the Empire is on the verge of being plunged into tumult, would be one such event?]

Gustav: [――――]

Subaru: [I’ve heard that Gustav-san has been doing all these preparations, and that the quality of the gladiators has risen incredibly. Old Man Null also said that ever since Gustav-san became Governor, it’s a world of difference from before.]

Old Man Null had a long history as a gladiator, and was a living witness to both the good and bad times on the island. Since he had provided testimony that there had never been a Governor better than Gustav, it was quite a big deal.

Gustav was admirably fulfilling the duty that the Emperor had ordered him to do.

Subaru: [But, even a shiny, valuable, excellent sword will be completely useless if kept contained in its scabbard.]

Gustav: [Schwartz, what are you trying to get me to do? If you continue to run your mouth with excessively imprudent comments, I shall have no choice but make use of my power as the official, and issue punishment.]

Subaru: [So you’ll force me to do a Sparka? But, Gustav-san, you should know that such a thing won’t really serve as a punishment for me, right?]

Gustav: [――. Merely ordering participation in Sparka, would not necessarily be the entirety of your penalty.]

After a moment’s hesitation, Gustav narrowed his eyes as he trained his gaze on Subaru. It was plain as day that the true meaning behind those words was that of the Curse Rule.

The fact that he did not want to use it if possible was communicated via the peacefulness within his eyes, which even his imposing appearance could not hide.

Gustav: [What sort of times we are currently living in, what sort of actions I shall take as the official, those are things that I, in my capacity, shall decide for myself. Schwartz, the only thing you ought to do is act in accordance with your awareness as a gladiator, and silently pass the time.]

Saying that, Gustav turned his back towards Subaru and Tanza.

If that was the final thing he wished to convey to Subaru, then he sure had spoken about far too many needless things. Whether or not Gustav himself was aware of that, he made quick strides walking along the stone paving of the lookout platform, and wanted to hastily leave from here.

So, although he felt sorry towards Gustav――,

Subaru: [You gave me advice, so sorry about this, but there’s no way that I’m gonna pass the time in silence, Gustav-san.]

When the voice called out to the big bulky back, Gustav’s legs suddenly came to a halt. Gustav looked back around with only his head, and fixed his gaze upon Subaru, standing upright, and Tanza, waiting beside him.

Under that imposing gaze, Subaru slowly shook his head side to side.

Subaru: [Though I do like you Gustav-san, there are things that I gotta do. Since I have no intention of giving up on those things, I think I’m gonna be causing a racket for a little while longer.]

Gustav: […Are you attempting to provoke me in my capacity?]

Subaru: [Nope. Just that I’ve settled my resolve, that sort of declaration of war.]

Flashing his teeth as he smiled, Subaru declared so, and witnessing that, Gustav stroked his own fangs using his two right arms. After briefly contemplating, he gave a deep sigh towards Subaru, whose smile could not be destroyed, and,

Gustav: [In that case, as the official, my side shall simply do nothing but perform our professional duties.]

Leaving only those words behind, this time Gustav actually left the lookout platform with large strides.

As his back vanished from sight, but still waiting until those audible footsteps could no longer be heard, Subaru finally released the tension he had put into his shoulders.

Subaru: [Good grief, as expected, it really is quite the strain to confront Gustav-san.]

Tanza: [This is not a matter for you to be saying “good grief”. I think it was I whose lifespan has been greatly diminished.]

As Subaru languidly took breaths, Tanza, released from her tension, hounded him with those words. Seeing her angered state, Subaru forced a smile saying “My bad, my bad”, and,

Subaru: [But, it was thanks to Tanza staying by my side that I was able to get through that without crying. Thank you.]

Tanza: [Perhaps it would have been better if you were exposed to the shame of crying, and then be made to reconsider, Schwartz-sama.]

Subaru: [Oi, oi, even if crying was on the same level as peeing my pants, I still wouldn’t back down, you know?]

Tanza: [I think in response to my foolish question, Schwartz-sama has given a foolish answer.]

That opinion was way too harsh. But, from Tanza’s perspective, it may have been natural to say that letting it get this far already was way too gracious.

After all, their opponent was the top position of the island, who could kill them in the time of a breath if he so desired, and even if they tried to run, it would be futile, since that opponent had placed a curse on them.

Tanza: [So then, without paying heed to your life, did you accomplish your objective, Schwartz-sama?]

Subaru: [Quite the thorny way of putting it… Please don’t treat me like you treat Ceci. After all, I do truly hold my own life dear.]

Tanza: [Did you accomplish your objective?]

Subaru: [That pressure is brutal! I accomplished it, I accomplished it! Rather than accomplished, it might be more natural to say that I ascertained it. ――Seems like only using words won’t be enough to persuade him.]

Tanza’s dark irises closing in on Subaru without hesitation was a knockout. Hearing him give that reply like he was complaining, Tanza frowned her round eyebrows.

Subaru’s objective had been to ascertain just how much Gustav poured his heart into his professional duties as Governor. Then, he had wanted to figure out the foundation of the reason why he did so.

Fortunately, thanks to Gustav’s doctrine of transparency, he was able to find out about those things. In exchange, he also found out about the underlying conviction for his unwavering loyalty.

Subaru: [Dammit, that masked bastard is really irritating.]

Remembering the nasty and underhanded man bearing the mask of an Oni, who still got in his way despite being separated from him, Subaru pouted his lips, and then faced the sky as he reached out to it in a grand motion.

And then――,

Subaru: [Tanza, can you call for Hiain and the others? I’ve decided on the next course of action.]

At Subaru’s declaration, Tanza’s expression tensed up, and prompted the words that would follow through her silence.

She wore a dependable expression, which seemed like it wanted to say that no matter what his strategy was, they would certainly accomplish it; while Subaru faintly anticipated what her expression would shift to next, he continued.

Subaru: [――I’m gonna challenge Gustav-san to a Sparka.]

Thus he declared.

《To Be Continued》

Brotherhood of Pleiades – Part 2

Translated by: @garmadoncar

Proofread by: Cirdan Lunae

1

――Challenging the Governor of the Gladiator Island Ginunhive, Gustav Morello, to Sparka.

Having turned all of the gladiators on the island into his allies, solidifying his will to participate in the rebellion shaking the Vollachian Empire, that was Natsuki Subaru’s strategy in order to complete his conquest of the Gladiator Island.

Tanza: [But, was it not you who had dismissed my proposal of armed negotiations as being the height of stupidity, Schwartz-sama?]

Subaru: [I didn’t say anything like “the height of stupidity” though!? I cushioned the blow by saying it was gonna have to be a nope, didn’t I? Tanza, I don’t want you to hate me after all.]

Tanza: [It seems that you speak in such a manner to everyone. So much so that you have even won over six hundred people.]

Subaru: [Considering that your motive is worry, your words are still way too sharp…]

Her eyes and expression unchanged, Tanza closed in on Subaru with an indifferent voice as the latter became overwhelmed. The sudden change from his previous attitude of asking her to tell him anything was rather difficult to believe.

Having called Gustav down to the island’s lookout platform, Subaru directly carried out a conversation with him.

There, in addition to Gustav’s nature of which Subaru already knew, events unknown to him were revealed, ones that touched upon the main essence of Gustav’s loyalty to the Emperor. Subaru thought that all of it was valuable information for his conquest, but now Tanza was in this sort of bad mood.

Be that as it may, it was only natural that she would be upset.

After all, Subaru’s strategy to challenge him to Sparka probably did not seem all too different from her initial proposal of overpowering in negotiations by using their difference in war potential as a shield.

Tanza: [On the contrary, this would essentially be the same thing as a simultaneous uprising that both Hiain-sama and Weitz-sama spoke of, would it not?]

Subaru: [Tanza, the way you say “on the contrary” really shows your opinion of those two… But, it’s different from their idea. Of course, it’s also not the same as Tanza’s idea.]

Tanza: […Please explain.]

Given some leeway from Tanza as she stared him down, Subaru lowered his hands, which had been raised in submission.

Tanza, with whom Subaru truly shared the same feelings of wanting to escape from the island, had been far too easy on him. The reason she was even helping Subaru was simply because she desired to reunite with Yorna as soon as possible. He reflected upon the fact that he had forgotten about that, and that he had heedlessly been relying on her.

In any case――,

Subaru: [What I mean by challenging Gustav-san to a Sparka is different from the idea of seizing the island via brute force.]

Tanza: [In that case, what is your objective?]

Subaru: [I’m gonna make Gustav-san understand. ――That the time for him to make a decision is coming.]

Ultimately, as if he had spoken a riddle, discontent emerged in Tanza’s eyes.

But, it was not at all as if Subaru had simply put it in a confusing way to be mean.

Subaru: [I have more trust in Tanza than she may think, but…]

Even if it were Tanza, he needed to be very careful about the information he gave her.

In the first place, with all of the island’s gladiators recruited as Subaru’s allies, the Gladiator Island was currently atop a more perilous equilibrium than it had ever been before. What had been detering the gladiators from uniting and erupting with their pent-up anger until now was the Curse Rule imposed by Gustav.

Due to the presence of the Curse Rule, the gladiators were unable to take strong measures due to fear of a one-sided slaughter. ――However, Subaru was already aware of the whereabouts of the Curse Rule’s cornerstone.

Subaru: [The Curse Tool is inside of Gustav-san’s body…]

――In the world of the first lap, Todd and Arakiya had visited the Gladiator Island as messengers.

As a result of stubbornly disobeying the two special envoys sent from the Imperial Capital, Gustav had lost his life. Having opened up his back, Todd tore out the cornerstone of the Curse Rule from inside Gustav’s body, the Curse Tool.

A black orb the size of a palm―― the Curse Tool which had become a hindrance; if his goal was merely to take that away, it would be best for him to reenact that repulsive scene.

With that, the objective of Tanza and the gladiators would be complete, and everyone would probably be able to break free from the island.

However, the lives of Gustav and the guards would not be saved. ――That was something which he hated.

Tanza: [――. Schwartz-sama, what kind of future are you picturing?]

Fixing her eyes on Subaru as he tried to choose his words carefully, Tanza enquired so of him.

Though she was still young, Tanza was by no means a fool. She fully understood that Subaru was not revealing all of the information he had, and that he was intentionally being secretive.

And for her, there was always the option to hear what Subaru knew via brute force at any time.

But even so――,

Subaru: [――――]

Intently waiting for an answer, Tanza did not resort to such measures as Subaru tried to remain sincere.

Precisely because she had confidence in that, it seemed to her that Subaru was acting not in selfishness, but rather in sincerity.

Subaru: [My ideal is that me, Tanza, everyone from our Unit, and the gladiators of the island all get along with Gustav-san and the others, joining hands as we leave the island together.]

That was why, without pranks or anything of the sort, Subaru honestly confided his true feelings to Tanza.

For a moment, irritation towards his enigmaticness flashed in Tanza’s eyes, but since she could tell that Subaru was not lying just by looking at him, it gently shifted to understanding and perplexity.

Tanza: […No matter how you look at it, that idea is nothing but an idealistic dream.]

Subaru: [――Ngh, it’s not like that.]

Tanza admonished the unveiling of Subaru’s ideal as a rash aspiration. However, as Subaru immediately refused to fold with his quick rebuttal, an even greater amount of perplexity spread throughout Tanza’s large eyes.

It was probably a perplexity which could not comprehend just where Subaru’s confidence was coming from, but it was awfully ironic.

After all, this baseless confidence of Subaru’s was given to him by none other than Tanza herself.

Tanza: [Yes, that is correct, Schwartz-sama. Next time, without a doubt, we will not lose.]

Those were words that she had spoken to Subaru, who did not want to give up in a world that had once ended.

The magnitude of power that had bestowed upon Subaru was something which the current Tanza had no way of knowing.

Tanza: […For the sake of that ideal, is your answer Sparka?]

Finally, as if she had succumbed to Subaru’s unwavering gaze, Tanza breathed a sigh.

Perceiving that sigh, Subaru also relaxed his shoulders as he felt the slight stinging in the atmosphere calm down.

Granted, it was never as if he thought he would directly get into a jostle with Tanza.

Subaru: [Well, at worst, I was prepared to break an arm or two…]

Tanza: [If you thought I would commit such outrageous behavior, that is exceedingly unthinkable.]

Subaru: [Yeah, that’s right. Sorry, sorry, it’s not that I doubted you Tanza, it’s just that I’ve developed an overabundance of tension from some of my experiences.]

If it was Rem, it was possible that she would fight over a difference of opinion to the extent of breaking his fingers, but that comment angered Tanza, since she would never do those sorts of things.

Even Tanza, a genuine citizen of the Empire, would be inclined to say that Rem’s tendency to make snap judgements was overkill. Though, Rem’s surprising honesty when it came to her emotions was one of her good aspects.

And, as Subaru’s train of thought veered off-course, Tanza took a long sight as if she was astonished, and,

Tanza: [If we are truly speaking our honest feelings, I think that Schwartz-sama’s plans are reckless, foolish, and too idealistic.]

Subaru: [Gulp… W-well, even if you say that, I can’t help it…]

Tanza: [But…]

As Subaru’s cheeks stiffened, Tanza interrupted his words with a rather strong tone. Gazing over the daunted Subaru, with a slight air of spite,

Tanza: [In the beginning, when Chaosflame was first created, Yorna-sama would have likely faced similar ridicule of it being reckless, absurd, and impossible. Yet, she succeeded.]

Uttering the name of Yorna, whom she held in high regard, Tanza spoke of how she had accomplished the great feat of materializing her ideal.

Having laid eyes upon Chaosflame himself, Subaru could also imagine the reckless endeavor Yorna had attempted, along with how steep the road to materialize it would have been.

With Tanza as the first, it must have been a great help to many demi-human tribes.

Tanza: [Schwartz-sama, I am not trying to tell you that you are able to accomplish the same things as Yorna-sama. After all, Yorna-sama is an extraordinary person.]

Subaru: [I know. I’m not that conceited.]

Tanza: [But, were I to point and criticize someone’s ideal as being reckless, it would be tantamount to me ridiculing Yorna-sama’s ideal.]

For Tanza, who held a deep gratitude, love, and respect for Yorna, there was no way she could do such a thing.

It was not as if Subaru had been aiming for that when he spoke of his reckless ideals to her, but this little girl sorted through the feelings that were important to her, and the things that could be compromised, and chose to do so on her own.

Tanza: [However, Yorna-sama had both the power and the planning ability to materialize her grand ideal. Do you have such things, Schwartz-sama?]

Subaru: […When compared to Yorna-san’s raw strength and intelligence, I’m at quite a disadvantage. But, in regards to planning ability, it’ll be handled through Sparka, and in regards to power――]

Tanza: [Regarding it…?]

Subaru: [I’m counting on all the gladiators, as well as Tanza, to be my power.]

Tanza: [How slick…]

Tanza finally removed her gaze from Subaru as he gave his response.

It was astonishing that he would rely on others in the end, but Subaru had stopped worrying about that. Just what could he actually accomplish by rashly exerting himself with nothing but his short limbs and small stature?

From the start, Subaru’s pride would blow away in the same way as a dandelion’s fluff.

Subaru: [And so, could you go call for Hiain and the others again? First we’ll get those three… and then, we’ll get all of the gladiators to lend their help.]

Tanza: [Understood… But, will it really be possible? To challenge the Governor of this island, Gustav-sama, to Sparka?]

Subaru: [If I were to invite him to come down to the arena, and have a man-to-man fist fight with him there, the chances that Gustav-san would accept would be pretty low.]

Tanza: [Then, what are you going to do?]

Raising her round eyebrows, Tanza asked so of Subaru.

The key to his plan was to commence a Sparka with Gustav; without that, he would not reach his objective. Her question regarding that was natural, but there was also a difference in their interpretations.

But then again, he could easily imagine Tanza’s reaction if he were to try and explain it in further detail.

The reason was――,

Subaru: [This is something I heard from Ceci, but…]

Indeed, the instant Cecilus’s name was uttered, just as Subaru had imagined, Tanza’s expression was covered in a rare hue of suspicion.

2

Cecilus: [――Do you know the origin of the word “Sparka”, Basu?]

Cecilus: [Right now it’s used as a word that means gladiators fighting but originally it was used as a word that had the implication of a duel in which unyielding convictions were staked.]

Cecilus: [Somewhere along the line it stopped meaning a contest of convictions and started to be recognized as a word that meant a struggle between lives… Well, situations where people were fighting to the death often involved scenes where convictions were put to the test so perhaps the essence of it hasn’t shifted all too far from the truth!]

Cecilus: [Thus, to so easily accept that change in interpretation would be the thinking of a background-character. Unfortunately one’s life and their convictions are obviously completely different things! In most cases it’s often recommended that you bend your convictions for the sake of your life but that is a choice which can only be tolerated for background-characters, supporting-roles, and antagonists.]

Cecilus: [But were it to be worthy of the leading actor as he performs in the limelight and pulls the story on the grand stage! Then there is absolutely no way he would do anything like bend his convictions whilst being reluctant to die! Convictions are one’s dignity itself. If one bends their convictions to extend their life then whose life is it that then remains?]

Cecilus: [That person will lose the evidence that they are themselves the moment they bend their dignity and discard their convictions, if that is so…]

Cecilus: [An empty husk which has lost the core of the person they had been up until that point with only their life remaining, just who could they then be called?]

Cecilus: [Precisely because that is so, I shall dare to declare it! Even if everyone evaluates it as a crude and extreme logic and refuses to give their endorsement, I shall declare it in a loud voice without any concern for those things!]

Cecilus: [――Life itself is Sparka!]

Cecilus: [Battles where we must herald our convictions and dignity can befall us at any time. Likely we are endlessly continuing to fight upon battlefields of Sparka in forms unknown.]

Cecilus: [If you understand that then blades and even limbs aren’t necessary for Sparka. After all, this fighting isn’t just conducted by means of brute strength, it is a flower which supports the whole color palette by taking various forms.]

Cecilus: [Well now, Basu. ――What form will your Sparka take?]

3

Subaru: [――Gustav-san, do Sparka with me.]

Gustav: [――――]

Turning around in a dignified manner, Gustav glared at Subaru, who had reached his hand out, with an imposing expression.

With his tendency to regularly wear a terrifying face, there were cases where Gustav gave off the impression of glaring when he was merely looking at another person, but this did not seem to be one of those misjudgments.

Gustav Morello was glaring. ――Glaring at Natsuki Subaru, who had deployed the gladiators to occupy the entirety of the area of the island’s upper stratum that belonged to the Governor, and had completely paralyzed all operations of the island.

Gustav: [What is…]

Subaru: [Hm?]

Gustav: [What is the intention of this reckless behavior, I demand your explanation, Schwartz.]

Subaru: [Explanation…]

Moving his lips from which large fangs protruded, Gustav’s rational demeanor would not crumble. Ruminating over the word Gustav spoke, Subaru looked back towards the entrance of the office to which his back had faced.

Previously in the first lap, Subaru had witnessed all the brutal tragedies that had taken place in this room by camouflaging with the help of Hiain. Though, thinking back upon those tragedies that had a huge impact on him, if he drove them out of his mind, then this was just a very modest and inorganic room.

Whether that modest room would reach a conclusion where it merely remained as it was, would all depend on Subaru――.

Gustav: [Schwartz, your explanation.]

Of the silent Subaru, Gustav repeated himself and inquired once more.

With or without an explanation, since they had so clearly risen in revolt, from Gustav’s position as Governor, the correct course of action would be to suppress them without question. Not to mention, Subaru and Gustav were the only two people in this office. To subdue him would be exceedingly easy.

Even going as far as to stop Tanza from accompanying him, Subaru had come here by himself.

Of course, that was something Subaru did because he believed that Gustav was not the kind of person to suppress them without question, but from this point he would have to proceed in a logical manner.

For the sake of the important topic that Natsuki Subaru would propose to Gustav Morello, from here on out,

Subaru: [There’s nothing for me to explain, Gustav-san.]

Gustav: [――――]

Subaru: [As you can see, I’ve made all the gladiators on this island my comrades. Seems like my extremely dangerous Sparka style sparked everyone’s paternal instincts.]

Gustav: [As far as I know in my capacity, the vast majority of gladiators can be evaluated as being far removed from paternalism.]

Subaru: [That’s one way of saying my way of evoking paternal instincts was top notch.]

As Subaru shrugged his shoulders and gave a response, Gustav narrowed his eyes and pondered.

With an expression akin to an oni and folding his four burly arms, Gustav once again grasped the situation outside the window―― the situation of the Gladiator Island being occupied, and accepted Subaru’s words as valid.

――Currently, the Gladiator Island was under the complete control of Subaru and his comrades of around six hundred gladiators.

There were also one hundred guards assigned to the island, but it was impossible for them to stop all of the gladiators from operating in such an organized and systematic manner. The thing he had been most scared of was the Gladiator Beasts being let loose, but since they had stolen the keys to the cages beforehand, they were able succeed in seizing control.

Subaru: [Thanks to that, we were able to avoid the Gladiator Beasts from going on a rampage. After all, that was the only thing I was afraid of.]

Gustav: [That was the only thing, you say?]

Upon Subaru giving his impressions regarding the difficulties in seizing control of the island, Gustav reacted.

From his perspective, it was a comment which he could not just let slide. After all, the largest factor stopping a rebellion on this Gladiator Island was not the Gladiator Beasts, but rather――,

Gustav: [――As the official, the jurisdiction to utilize the Curse Rule is granted to me, there is no possibility that you are not aware of it.]

Subaru: [I’m aware. Since Gustav-san is binding everyone with a curse, the gladiators won’t do anything rash even if they had discontent. If they disobeyed, their lives would be in danger.]

Gustav: [In that case, why have you launched this kind of reckless rebellion? ――Preposterous, are you thinking that the Curse Rule does not exist, and that I, in my capacity, have fabricated it as a falsehood in order to restrain the gladiators?]

Subaru: [I don’t think that. Nah, I did think that at first. But now I don’t think that.]

As Gustav had said, there was a time when Subaru had suspected that something such as the Curse Rule did not exist, and instead was an imperfect alternative being made to appear bigger through fear and control.

However, Subaru was already well aware of the fact that the Curse Rule did exist.

Even so, the reason Subaru was not afraid of the Curse Rule was plain and simple.

Subaru: [I’m scared of the Curse Rule, but I’m not scared if the wielder is Gustav-san. After all, Gustav-san isn’t gonna totally annihilate us with a curse.]

Gustav: […Are you saying it is a role which exceeds my capacity?]

As expected, there was some discontent mixed into Gustav’s voice as he was told that.

In other words, it was denouncing him as a coward who abandoned his professional duties. Even he, who had told Subaru that bravery alone was not important at the lookout platform, would not want to be spoken of poorly.

If he was being slandered, he would likely want to give his retort.

Gustav unfolded one of his upper crossed arms, and gesturing to the island with that large arm,

Gustav: [Bestowed upon me, as the official, is the role of a warden that steadily administrates this Gladiator Island. Any factors which obstruct this must be eliminated, no matter what form they may take. Not to mention, the one who ordered me, in my capacity, to work as Governor was His Excellency the Emperor himself.]

Subaru: [What was it again? Something like “In preparation for the emergency, train the gladiators in both body and mind”?]

Gustav: [You are generally correct. Therefore, deeds such as rebelling against the guards and I, as the official, are undesirable. Consequently, you shall be disposed of in accordance with the jurisdiction granted to me, in an effort to prevent such things from occurring again.]

In a severe voice, Gustav sternly declared his own course of action.

If the conversation were to end there, and Subaru’s reckless deeds invoked the activation of the Curse Rule, that would be the worst possible result. However, as Subaru stared up at Gustav, he continued.

Gustav: [However, if you disperse the crowd right here and now, and never attempt the same overpowering negotiations again, the activation of the Curse Rule… the execution of the jurisdiction granted to me as the official, shall be shelved.]

Subaru: [――――]

Gustav: [Schwartz?]

A concession of the greatest degree; while suggesting such a thing, the wrinkles on Gustav’s brow slightly deepened.

The reason for that was present in Subaru’s expression as they faced each other. It was because Subaru, who had been slightly tense as he awaited Gustav’s words, relaxed his expression upon hearing the proposal.

Right now, Subaru’s chest was filled with the relief of that previous tension being alleviated, as well as a sense of satisfaction.

There were several reasons for that relief, but the thing which had relieved Subaru the most was――,

Subaru: [As I thought, Gustav-san, you sure are lost.]

Gustav: [What?]

Subaru: [Even if you do that scary face and voice, you wouldn’t be able to dispose of us so easily.]

Gustav: [――. In my capacity, my facial features and voice are not things I can change to my liking.]

In response to Subaru pointing that out, the tone of Gustav’s response was weak.

It was not that he was perplexed due to not having any idea what to do in response to that being pointed out.

Rather, it was something that ought to be referred to as the clumsily sincere wavering of a person who had far too clear of an idea of what to do.

The one who held responsibility for absolutely all of that was not Gustav, but rather the Emperor who had given him those orders.

Subaru: [It’s all because of that damn Abel’s vague orders.]

And, remembering that abhorrent expression clad in an oni mask, Subaru cursed so.

Of course, he did not think that it was a problem caused by incompetence on Abel’s part when he issued the order. Though he had been ousted from the throne, even if the fugitive Emperor, continuing to take measures to reclaim his throne, was self-righteous, he was a man far from receiving an evaluation of “incompetent”.

Everybody who knew Abel was well aware of that, and Gustav was no exception.

That was why Gustav had always continued to think about it. ――About the true intent of the Emperor’s orders.

Subaru: [If Gustav-san’s thinking has gotten stagnant because of that, it really makes me wanna tell that guy to stop messing around.]

Gustav: [Insults towards His Excellency the Emperor are…]

Subaru: [Not allowed, right? But, don’t you think so? In preparation for the emergency, train the gladiators in both body and mind… When is the emergency? What’s the standard for the level of the gladiators trained in both body and mind? Let’s say you were able to actualize that, what are you supposed to do from there?]

Gustav: [――――]

Counting all the dissatisfactions regarding the cruel orders bestowed upon Gustav on his fingers, Subaru’s breathing became rough.

At first, he was reproached by Gustav, abundantly loaded with anger for the unparalleled disrespect towards the Vollachian Emperor. But, Gustav did not rebuke him for the second time.

Gustav, too, felt anger towards the Emperor deep in his heart―― That did not seem to be the case. But, on Gustav’s silent face, Subaru felt like he could see a small, truly difficult to understand, conflict.

That conflict was anguish over whether he should continue conversing with Subaru like this, or if he should make use of the Curse Rule to forcibly put an end to their discussion.

Subaru: [I probably have an answer to what Gustav-san wants to know.]

Gustav: […An answer to what I, in my capacity, want to know?]

Subaru: [I understand that Gustav-san has quite a strong loyalty towards the Emperor. I don’t really get why, but I get it… That may also be something that serves as my lifeline.]

Gustav: [――――]

Those last few words, which he appended in a quiet voice, was a suspicion which Subaru did not really wish to make sure of. If that suspicion turned out to be correct, it would not be very agreeable for Subaru, so he did not ascertain it.

Hiding his brief personal conflict, Subaru looked to Gustav, and spoke.

Subaru: [Frankly, Gustav-san, you’re lost and worried about whether your actions are properly following the Emperor’s orders. Am I wrong?]

It seemed that Gustav was probably exerting as much effort as possible to prevent his expression from shifting. However, though it was just a moment of discomposure, his stiffened cheeks were not able to bear it.

Ordered by the Emperor, the highly loyal retainer honestly tried his best to live up to those expectations.

But, far too much interpretation for this important order was entrusted to the listener, and with the wishes of the Empire’s apex so distant that he even hesitated to inquire about the true intent, Gustav must have been lost, he must have wavered, and he must have been troubled.

On his own, he comprehended the true intent of the Emperor was a certain way, anguished over it, and arrived at an implementation.

And then――,

Subaru: [The thing that the Emperor wanted to let Gustav-san do, I think it’s probably been achieved at this point. Though, it really makes me angry.]

Gustav: […For what reason does it anger you, Schwartz? Do not repeat more impudent disrespect towards His Excellency the Emperor. First and foremost, how do you know that the current state of the Gladiator Island is in accordance with the esteemed intentions of His Excellency the Emperor?]

Subaru: [No, I don’t know that. Whether this island is in the ideal state that the Emperor had hoped for is honestly an enigma.]

Gustav: [――. It seems your viewpoint in itself is constantly changing…]

Subaru: [I’m not doing that.]

As Subaru shook his head, Gustav’s light air of perplexity deepened.

A serious and honest blue-skinned Multi-Arm Tribesman with a frightening monster-like face. Faced with such a commendable vassal who devoted such loyalty towards him, the Emperor of Vollachia―― Abel, had done something cruel.

Subaru: [Probably, the Emperor’s desire wasn’t how the island would turn out, but rather, the trial and error that Gustav-san would go through in order to clear his order.]

Gustav: [――――]

Subaru: [In other words, the Emperor was doing a test… he was testing you. How Gustav-san would interpret the order he was bestowed with, how he would implement it. The objective was… well, at the very least, it probably wasn’t just out of curiosity.]

As Subaru expressed his conjecture and scratched his cheek, Gustav remained silent.

But, that silence was not in order to bear anger or the violent emotions welling up inside of him; surely, it was an intellectual and composed serenity for the sake of taking in Subaru’s view, and processing it for himself.

Though it was probably in Gustav’s nature to unsparingly brush Subaru’s opinion aside, this silence was likely because he himself could understand that Subaru may have had a point.

Subaru: [If that’s true, then he’s truly a bastard with an awful personality…]

Just how would he meet the instructions granted to him? Subaru could understand the idea of trying to ascertain a subordinate’s ability and aptness via such creativity and ability to respond to instructions, but this method was absolutely that of a prideful, dictatorial leader. When doing such a thing on a national scale, the number of people involved would be extraordinary.

But, at the same time, it also felt like the aptitudes ascertained from these tests would be something unfavorable for the reign of Abel. If he wanted to continue being a dictatorial Emperor, then finding people like Gustav who had the ability to think for themselves would be rather inconvenient.

The true meaning of this test was a plain expectation for other people.

Subaru: [But, “expectation” doesn’t really sound right, so, maybe trust…? That doesn’t suit him either.]

He wanted to call it “arrogance in the form of trust in others”, as if going to such an extent was natural.

Setting aside that resistance in his heart, Subaru spoke of what he thought the true intention of the order given to Gustav was. Perhaps it could be called a litmus test of the Emperor’s expectations and trust.

Exposed to that, as a result of the struggle to meet those expectations, the Gladiator Island――,

Subaru: [At first, I thought this was an outrageous place…]

In the barren room, touching the back of the sofa used for receiving visitors, Subaru turned around to the interior―― No, he turned his head as to look out over the Gladiator Island Ginunhive.

Since he had unexpectedly washed ashore on the island of isolating waters, sharing in the same fate as an unfamiliar partner, Subaru had repeated Death to such an extent that would make anybody want to avert their eyes, and managed to overcome Sparka.

The circumstances were such that if one did not accomplish that, they could not become a member of the island; however, what lay beyond surmounting that first barrier was a life on an island where an air of tension constantly hung, with rigid rules bending them down.

Under Gustav’s designs, it was a restrictive island that did not lean towards severity or coarseness―― When Subaru became confident that that was what Ginunhive was, he had a thought.

Subaru: [This place, it’s like a really strict boarding school.]

Of course, he was not talking about the entry test being difficult; even if monstrous parents did not object to a system where failure to pass would result in death, the vehement protest of a legal guardian would be unavoidable.

But, if one at least ignored the imperial ways there, then it was a sound environment where a bed and meals were guaranteed, and one even had to do work that involved mental strain (Sparka).

It was just like school―― though, taking the history of the gladiators into account, it might have been more appropriate to compare it to prison. Either way, both were institutions that intended to cultivate those who entered, and to rectify them.

Just why had Gustav been entrusted with such a role?

Subaru: [You told me about this back at the lookout platform. When Gustav-san first met the Emperor, all the men had gone off to war, and the only ones left in the assailed village were Gustav-san, the women, and the children.]

Gustav: […Strictly speaking, there were men present other than myself, in my capacity. However, the reason for them not going to war was because they were all either injured, sickly, or elderly.]

Subaru: [What happened to them?]

Gustav: [When the village was attacked, they all strived to grab their weapons first, and they lost their lives. Including myself, in my capacity, the survivors were composed of only very few women and children. Even we who remained, if His Excellency the Emperor and his subordinate had not arrived in time, everyone――]

Subaru: [It’s that.]

Interrupting Gustav’s answer halfway through, Subaru reeled in the reason for his unease.

The unease Subaru felt, it was something that the person it concerned, Gustav, did not understand. Even if it was clear to an onlooker, it was not an uncommon case that the person concerned would feel anything out of the ordinary.

But, supposing the Emperor had felt the same discomfort that Subaru was feeling,

Subaru: [If I remember correctly, the mastermind who targeted Gustav-san’s village was a feudal lord whose objective was to reduce the number of mouths to feed. It would be dangerous for him if such dark activities were exposed, so he should have been fully prepared and should have dealt with any issues.]

However, the result was that time had been bought for Gustav and the women and children, so the Emperor’s subordinate was able to come rushing in and kill all the assassins; because of that, the mastermind went through the hardship of punishment since his own involvement was finally exposed.

Then, there ought to have been somebody whose great efforts caused the mastermind’s plan to fail.

For instance――,

Subaru: [In preparation for the village getting attacked, Gustav-san could have armed the women and children.]

Gustav: [――――]

Subaru: [That expression, so you really did do that?]

Gustav: […If the men left the village, it was obvious we would be deemed as ideal prey by others. Sitting around waiting to be destroyed is a matter for fools of the past. In my capacity, I loathe strife, but I am not one so obstinate to refuse to take the sword when it means death. ――Even so, most were killed.]

Subaru: […But, Gustav-san was saved. And even if just a few people, there were other survivors.]

The amount of people, Subaru did not know if that would relieve the burden on Gustav’s heart.

Supposing the feelings of guilt Gustav had were large, Subaru could understand the feeling of worrying over the problem of zero or one hundred.

But, he could also somewhat understand the reason why the oddball Emperor, who had hastened there, had given a high evaluation of the eccentric Multi-Arm Tribesman who had resisted.

Subaru: [If Gustav-san were the type to mindlessly follow the Emperor’s orders, this island would have probably been a much more hellish environment, and if we took a rebellious stance like this, it would be weird to not immediately activate the curse… But, I guess that’s probably the reason why this island was entrusted to you.]

Gustav: [But, just earlier you guessed that it was His Excellency the Emperor’s true intention to test me in my capacity?]

Subaru: [A test is a test, but qualifications are needed to take the test. Letting a guy with no chances of passing take the test is like, only something that happens when someone takes an entrance exam for a school without caring if they pass. Besides――]

Subaru folded his arms and tilted his head, and he answered as Abel’s face came to his mind.

It was the test of a prideful man who spoke as if he knew everything and could foresee anything in this world.

Subaru: [The moment he decided to try and test you, he would have already completely deemed you acceptable. If a disappointing outcome resulted from that, he’s the type to curse his own decision to let you take the exam instead of cursing the examinee.]

Gustav: [――――]

Subaru: [That’s just what I think, personally.]

Marking that as the end, Subaru restated that everything he had said until now was all his conjecture.

The contents were such that they had probably given Gustav hopes of understanding what the Emperor’s true intentions were, but as they spoke, the less sure Subaru became of whether it was correct.

It would not be strange if in the blink of an eye, Abel could think up the same contents that had taken Subaru so much thinking to devise, and it was also completely possible that he had been completely off the mark.

But, this way of thinking was a perfect match for the image of Abel within Subaru.

Gustav: [Schwartz, supposing your thinking is correct…]

After taking a moment to digest everything, Gustav wrung those words out.

His voice sounding akin to one heard in a cold and gloomy cave, Gustav formed his words as he folded his four thick arms.

Gustav: [What do you think the “emergency” that His Excellency the Emperor ordered me to prepare for, as the official, is supposed to be?]

Subaru: […Gustav-san, if you suspect that the emergency is the civil war happening right now, then you’re the one who has to decide on that. That’s what you had just told me back at the lookout platform.]

Gustav: [Affirmative. But, bearing the shame, I request your opinion.]

For him to admit his own fault, and openly request advice, was incredible.

In a savage place where admitting a mistake could cost one their life, full of people trying to take advantage of those mistakes, the very fact that he could admit his mistake like that shone like a golden radiance.

But, it was an uncharacteristic blunder on his part to ask that question of Subaru.

Subaru: [――――]

After all, was it not so? “Prepare for the emergency”; Gustav had been ordered to do so.

If Subaru told him that the emergency was meant to mean what was happening right now, it would be enough justification for him to go with Subaru and the others.

The fact he had entrusted the matter to Subaru, may have been indicative of Gustav’s intent, but――.

Subaru: [――I think, the “emergency” the Emperor spoke of is just about being prepared. There’s no specific date or event that it’s referring to, but more like it’s about getting ready in case anything ever happens.]

Because the word “emergency” had thoughtlessly been chosen, margin for interpretation had been created, and confusion had sprouted. He also feared that perhaps even that was a part of the test intended by the Emperor.

Gustav: [――――]

Hearing Subaru’s reply, a complex hue flashed in Gustav’s eyes.

Subaru’s reply just now was an answer that had deviated from the aforementioned justification. At a question which he could have exploited and taken advantage of, Subaru chose not to exploit, he chose not to take advantage.

And then――,

Subaru: [The “emergency” that the Emperor ordered Gustav-san to prepare for isn’t right now. ――But, won’t you pretend that it is right now, and come together with us to ruin the civil war?]

In such a merry tone, Subaru invited him to join a policy that betrayed the Emperor’s decree, which he only now revealed.

4

Gustav: [――This is difficult to understand.]

As Subaru held out his hand and grinned, Gustav used his two upper arms to rub his brow.

With the reality of having just caused distress for him, it was not as though Subaru did not feel responsibility, however,

Subaru: [I’m asking if Gustav-san can bend his logic just a little bit, but…]

Gustav: [In my capacity, I am aware of this. Since I am aware, I am finding it difficult to understand. In the first place, all of your speech and conduct until now has been nothing short of incomprehensible.]

With fingers still on his brow, Gustav’s eyes looked down on Subaru, as the latter feigned ignorance.

Gustav: [Throwing yourself into perilous Sparkas, winning over the island’s gladiators as your allies, and rising up in revolt against me, the official; these I can comprehend. However, I have no choice but to question an uprising performed while fully understanding the risk of the Curse Rule; moreover, our dialogue a moment ago was quite capable of pushing me, in my capacity, to take the step and utilize the Curse Rule.]

Subaru: [Just like an act of suicide?]

Gustav: [There are no other words capable of describing it. But, I do not sense that you have suicidal thoughts. I find it unthinkable for you to want to take those in your surroundings down with you. That is to say, it goes beyond my capacity for comprehension.]

Just like how Subaru had analyzed Gustav, Gustav was now analyzing Subaru’s character.

Be that as it may, Subaru did not consider himself to be a complex person, so Gustav’s diagnosis was generally correct. He had never thought that he wanted to die, or that he wished to bring those in his surroundings down with him.

For that reason, Gustav was troubled that he could not understand Subaru’s feelings, but――,

Subaru: [Come to think of it, there’s a Curse Tool needed for the Curse Rule inside of Gustav’s body, right?]

Gustav: [――. Do not tell me, has it already been taken out of my body, as the official?]

Subaru: [Ah, to tell you the truth… YOU SERIOUSLY THINK THAT! No I have not! Even though it’s designed to prevent such a thing from happening, it would be worrying if we were able to steal it without being caught, wouldn’t it!?]

Gustav: [If Cecilus Segmunt is present, things that are usually impossible seem to become possible.]

Subaru: [Ahh, Ceci, right. Yes yes, Ceci, Ceci…]

Though it was an outrageous opinion, Subaru could not help but agree with the line of thought that most things could become possible when Cecilus was placed in the center.

In reality, just how did Gustav perceive Cecilus, who was given non-standard treatment?

The strength he possessed was certain, but still, Gustav did not think he was the real First, or perhaps he did?

Either way, it would not be fair if he did not clear up Gustav’s misunderstanding first.

Subaru: [I’m sorry, Gustav-san, I lied to you about one thing.]

Gustav: […A lie? As expected, so you took it from my body?]

Subaru: [Not that, it’s about making all the gladiators on the island my allies. Um, there’s just one exception. Ceci.]

Gustav: [What?]

Subaru: [Ceci’s the only one I’ve yet to ask. Or rather, I don’t intend on asking him until the very end.]

Raising a single finger, Subaru displayed his attitude towards the lone expectation on this island, Cecilus.

Gustav slightly widened his eyes upon hearing that, and resumed rubbing his brow with the fingers still placed there. It was a reaction that seemed to say “This is increasingly difficult to understand.”

Gustav: [This is increasingly difficult to understand…]

Subaru: [Ah, you said it.]

Gustav: [A matter of course, is it not? ――You had been getting along with Segmunt. Taking Segmunt’s capabilities into account, he ought to have been the most suitable person to ask right after the members of your Unit.]

Subaru: [Well, even if I asked him because I coveted him, I knew that he wouldn’t say no.]

At first he had put on airs, around mid-game he began acting nonchalant, and after reaching the latter-half, Cecilus had started to insist that he wanted to be persuaded; but, Subaru neglected him.

What Gustav had said was certain, Cecilus’s capability was outstanding, and if they had him then most things would turn out all right through a brute force approach.

Gustav: [If you knew that, then why?]

Subaru: [Because I knew that, I decided not to.]

Gustav: […Difficult to understand.]

Hearing Subaru’s immediate reply, Gustav’s misgivings only continued to deepen.

If Subaru did not demolish that mountain of doubts soon, then no matter how rational Gustav was, it was possible that he would negligently activate the Curse Rule.

Subaru: [The reason I didn’t ask Ceci, part of it was of course to annoy him, but the most important thing was the message I would be sending to Gustav-san.]

Gustav: [Mehssej…?]

Subaru: [Basically a declaration of my intentions. We don’t intend on using a brute force approach.]

As Subaru amended his words, Gustav’s doubts were not cleared up at all; in fact, they only deepened.

With his two lower arms still folded, Gustav turned his strict face, and,

Gustav: […With the island’s guards suppressed, it seems to me that the requisites for a brute force approach have been fully met.]

Subaru: [But, Gustav-san has the trump card of the Curse Rule. Since we don’t have the trump card of Ceci, we can’t get Gustav-san to do what we say with brute force, right?]

Gustav: [――. That reasoning is sound, but everything outside of that reasoning does not hold up.]

Gustav, having been able to understand one thread of logic in the confusion, brought the two upper arms that had been massaging his brow back to his waist. Slightly puffing his chest up, with the Curse Tool stored in inside of him, Gustav’s fangs shook, and,

Gustav: [Following your reasoning, I, as the official, am at an advantage due to having the last resort of the Curse Rule. Completely one-sidedly at that. In my capacity, I am unable to comprehend why you have constructed such a situation. Your objective, what is it?]

Subaru: [If that’s what you wanna know, then it’s the very thing I said right at the start. ――It’s Sparka.]

Though they had taken quite the detour, Subaru’s cheeks contorted as the conversation finally returned to the main topic.

At first, when Subaru spoke the word “Sparka”, Gustav ignored it, and demanded a discussion to grasp the circumstances and comprehend Subaru’s motives.

But, the thing Subaru demanded had not deviated whatsoever from that which he said to Gustav at the very beginning.

A contest of convictions, where both Cecilus and the Curse Rule were to be considered against the rules.

Gustav: [Sparka… but Schwartz, that does not mean that you desire a duel with me in my capacity, correct?]

Subaru: [Of course, I don’t think you’d ever agree to such a thing, but I would be extremely troubled if you readily consented to it. My only chance would be if Gustav-san’s muscles were just for show, or if you were actually a little girl wearing a full-body costume.]

Gustav: [It would be impossible for a costume to control the island.]

Subaru: [Right.]

So of course, he rejected the likes of fist fights or death matches, and desired a different method.

The method for that, that which Subaru had brought with him was――,

Subaru: [Gustav-san, do you know the origin of the word “Sparka”?]

Gustav: [――. Since I took up office as Governor of the Gladiator Island, it was a necessary preliminary inquiry. Originally, it was not something that referred to the exhibition of gladiator battles, but a word indicative of duels wagered by those who refused to yield.]

Subaru: [Something like that. The thing I’m challenging Gustav-san to, is that type of Sparka.]

Speaking those words, Subaru tidied up the reception table, and spread out the contents of a cloth wrap that had been held in one of his hands the whole time.

The contents of the bag had been a coarsely made game board, and a pile of small pebbles painted with black and white on each of their sides.

Subaru: [It’s called Reversi. We take turns placing our stones on the board, and whoever has the most pieces by the end wins. When you sandwich your opponent’s pieces between your own, you get to flip them all over and make them your pieces.]

Gustav: [Why are you explaining this game?]

Subaru: [Because this is the Sparka I’m proposing.]

Responding so to Gustav’s question, Subaru placed his hands on the table and looked up at Gustav.

There was no flashy audience, and it was not a competition of disciplined skill either. However, if Sparka was a bout where convictions were staked, then this would be enough to serve as Sparka.

Subaru: [If Gustav-san wins, I’ll obediently withdraw everyone. I won’t cause any more disturbances like this either. I promise.]

Gustav: [If I win in my capacity, hm? Well then Schwartz, what about if you win?]

Subaru: [Renounce the Curse Rule, and let us go free. And then, you’ll come with us.]

Saying thus, Subaru vigorously seated himself in the reception sofa, and gesturing to the chair opposite himself with his hand, he invited Gustav.

The idealistic thought he had spoken of to Tanza, which she had said she would not ridicule; in order to materialize that reckless dream which would make anyone want to burst out laughing,

Subaru: [――To the Imperial Capital, to launch an attack on the place where His Excellency the Emperor is. Together with everyone from the island.]

5

It was a proposal that he should have brushed off as nothing short of absurd.

He had been given a direct order from the Vollachian Emperor, Vincent Vollachia. Consequently, Gustav had assumed the seat of Governor of the Gladiator Island; there was no margin for him to agree to such a thing.

He ought to teach this Natsuki Schwartz, the boy who had made a proposal that was more incomprehensible than it was reckless, that his decision was wrong. Perhaps it would have been better if he firmly insisted on activating the Curse Rule.

However――,

Schwartz: [Is it alright if I take black, and Gustav-san takes white? I feel like there was a rule that the colors decide who goes first and who goes second, but I’ve forgotten it, so you can decide whichever you please.]

Gustav: […In that case, I, as the official, shall go second.]

Schwartz: [OK, then I’ll make the first move. I like going first too.]

Moistening his lips with his tongue, Schwartz clapped his hands together and grabbed a black pebble, casually placing it adjacent to one of the white pebbles, which was one of the four pieces initially setup on the game board. With that white pebble now sandwiched between two black ones, Schwartz flipped it over with his finger, showing the side of the pebble that had been painted black.

Gustav: [――――]

Gustav pinched a pebble that was far too small for his hand, and pondered as he decided on where to put it.

Why did he not refuse Schwartz’s proposal or simply take actions to put an end to this absurd uprising on the island, but instead directly engage in this game―― No, in Sparka?

Schwartz: [If you happen to be worried about the safety of the guards and can’t concentrate, you don’t need to worry.]

Gustav: [――. What is your basis for that claim?]

Schwartz: [We didn’t subdue the guards with brute force, but by serving them a drug. Old Man Null made it for us, and then we laced it into the food prepared by Kashew and Codroe.]

Gustav: […It has come to light that there is a need to reevaluate the way I deal with the guards and gladiators. You have my gratitude.]

While each of them placed their pieces, Gustav heaved a sigh at the information presented in a manner similar to idle chatter.

Due to having permission to give medical treatment to his fellow gladiators, the gladiator known as Old Man Null was granted appropriate freedom; but, Gustav was surprised that he could create a drug with such an effect, and that he could compound drugs in general.

He could not turn a blind eye to the fact that the guards were rendered powerless due to eating the meals prepared by gladiators. It seemed it was necessary for him to explain the importance of their professional duties on the island to the guards once more.

Beside Gustav as he contemplated tightening discipline, Schwartz continued.

Schwartz: [Old Man Null has deemed Gustav-san’s way of doing things as acceptable. Even so, he helped me out because I promised to bring him back to his hometown. He said that there’s scenery he wants to see one more time before he dies.]

Gustav: [――――]

Schwartz: [Oh yeah, the duo of Kashew and Codroe originally worked as cooks. But, their shop was devastated by some hooligans hired by a rival shop, and they were arrested trying to get revenge.]

Gustav: [――――]

Schwartz: [By the way, the ones who stole the keys for the Gladiator Beast cages were Hiain and his friends, Orson’s group. The way lizard-people can move by crawling on walls is really incredible. But, because of that, they get treated like thieves, even if they didn’t do anything.]

Gustav: [――――]

Schwartz: [The board and pieces for Reversi were both made by Jawsrough. Did you know? The guy known as the lone-wolf, Jawsrough. Though he’s not a lone-wolf anymore, apparently he originally worked as a mason.]

Gustav: [――――]

Schwartz: [Weitz did the colors for the pieces. He said I could count on him to help with anything, and he was a lot more proficient than I had thought. Idra let me use his good-luck bandana for the cloth wrap.]

Gustav: [――――]

Schwartz: [You know, those kinds of guys wouldn’t have been saved if it weren’t for Gustav-san’s way of doing things. Nah, even under Gustav-san’s way of doing things, not everybody is saved.]

When the board was filled about half-way, a certain heat filled Schwartz’s voice.

Currently, it seemed like Gustav’s white pieces were dominating the boardtop. But, in this “Reversi” game, a lot of pieces could be turned over all at once, so he could not afford to be careless.

The moment Gustav entered into this match of gradual demolition, it was fully possible that he had already fallen into a trap designed by the boy before him.

Schwartz: [――――]

Schwartz’s gaze was fixed not on the game board, but on Gustav.

In those black eyes, he did not feel cold calculations; rather, he was captured by the earnest light housed within. It was no wonder that so many gladiators had changed their minds. All the more if their reason for that was due to the topic of the Emperor’s illegitimate child.

――The rumor that Schwartz was the black-haired Crown Prince that the masses were all currently discussing had naturally also reached Gustav’s ears, as the Governor of the island.

The fact that Schwartz was not merely the young child that his appearance suggested could be understood by witnessing his manner of activity on this island. Thus, people sought to find a reason for that.

That was so for Gustav, too. Even if the authenticity of that matter was unknown, in the case that the rumors were true, it would mean that Gustav might be taking the life of the esteemed child of the Emperor, to whom Gustav owed a great obligation.

――He had wanted to avoid that.

Gustav: [But, that is the reasoning for my side, as the official. It would not be the reasoning for Schwartz’s side. You have gone out of your way to be at a disadvantage; I don’t understand the intentions behind trying to be equal to myself, in my capacity.]

If Schwartz’s highest priority was to leave the Gladiator Island, then the best thing he could do would be to abandon his trivial hangup and make Cecilus his ally, cut through Gustav’s Curse Rule, and leave the island without any anguish.

However, Schwartz had not done those things, and instead deliberately went down a thorny path with no chance of winning in sight.

Gustav: [As expected, it is difficult to understand.]

Schwartz: [Gustav-san?]

Gustav: [Schwartz, if it is like you have calmly stated, and you have discovered talents that the gladiators have outside of fighting, then the choice to drag them into the middle of the civil war is a contradiction. Since you are aware that I, as the official, would never think of defying His Excellency the Emperor’s decree, it was also unwise to refuse to falsify the meaning of the “emergency”.]

If he did not want to let anybody die, then he should not drag the gladiators into the civil war.

If he wanted Gustav to accompany him, he should not have let the biggest opportunities pass by.

Thus, the same could be said of this game where both black and white take from the other’s position.

Gustav: [Even if you are victorious in this Sparka using this game board, you have no guarantee that I, as the official, will keep my promise. As you know, in my capacity, I am not a warrior of the Empire, nor do I take pride in battle.]

Schwartz: [I know. But, you’re mistaken about one thing, Gustav-san. ――I don’t plan on having Gustav-san lose this Sparka.]

Gustav: [――What?]

With a light thud, Schwartz placed down a black piece, and flipped over some of the whites on the board.

Though he was paving the path to his own victory, Schwartz had spoken those words.

That he did not intend on having Gustav lose this match. His words and his actions, were overflowing with contradictions.

Gustav could not help but doubt such disarray, and seeing that, Schwartz made a sound as he fiddled with the pebble in his hand, making a huge grin.

Schwartz: [It may seem like I’m speaking in riddles, but I’m not. ――Saying that we’re clashing with each other may seem like it means that there’s gonna be a winner and loser no matter what, but there’s another conclusion entirely detached from that.]

Gustav: [――――]

Schwartz: [My ideal would be to win Sparka, then accompanied by all the gladiators and Gustav-san, launch an attack on the Emperor’s place in the Imperial Capital.]

Gustav: [In order for that, there is a need for me to lose in my capacity, no? If that is the case, your comment just earlier about not having me lose as the official is a contradiction.]

Schwartz: [That may be the case for winning or losing Reversi. But, Sparka is a bout where convictions clash. In that case, both are important and can be ways to settle the conclusion.]

Gustav placed down a white piece, and flipped over a black one. As the Multi-Arm tribesman engaged in a bout that did not make good use of his four arms, Schwartz closed one of his eyes at Gustav, who had just ended his turn.

And then, a question was posed.

Schwartz: [What’s Gustav-san’s ideal conclusion?]

Gustav: [――. In accordance with His Excellency the Emperor’s decree, to carry out my professional duties as Governor of the Gladiator Island.]

Schwartz: [“For that purpose, prepare for the emergency, training the gladiators in both body and mind”… Right?]

Gustav: [Affirmative. It is just as you have verified many times during this conversation…]

Schwartz: [――Well then, the emergency that Gustav-san has decided on, when is it gonna happen?]

Schwartz nonchalantly stacked that question on top and made a loud sound as he placed a stone on the board.

The noise struck his eardrums, and the question had struck his very heart; at that moment, Gustav understood. The comprehension he had long anguished for, he had finally reached it.

――Schwartz had firmly instilled the Emperor’s intentions into Gustav.

Entrusting Gustav with the role of Governor, was not just for him to simply follow orders, it was to test if he had the talents to find the best solutions using his mind. If that was the true intention of Vincent Vollachia’s order, then it meant that Gustav had been granted something.

The order passed down to him from the Emperor, it granted Gustav the right to make judgments and decisions at his own discretion and interpretation.

Gustav: [――――]

Even if the contents of the question were the same, the respondent had been different, and thus it had been born.

In their previous discussion, Schwartz had overlooked the favorable opportunity to make Gustav his ally after gradually whittling him down. However, with offense and defense now reversed, the one who had to choose was Gustav.

Whether the emergency was now or not, the one who could decide on the Emperor’s order became Gustav.

As if to give Gustav a gentle push forward, Schwartz appended a brief comment.

That was――,

Schwartz: [Gustav-san, do you have the patience to stay confined to this island at a time when your benefactor is in danger?]

Gustav: [SCHWARTZ…!!]

Schwartz: [Your face and voice sure are scary, but if you aren’t going to kill us with the curse, then it’s nothing but a threat.]

Slamming both his upper arms on the table, Gustav loomed over the game board and Schwartz as he glared at the latter.

But, the boy looking up at him from directly below was undaunted by Gustav’s threat.

An extraordinary courage, and black eyes which seemed like they peered directly into his soul―― They bore a strong resemblance to the man who looked down from horseback at Gustav Morello when he was on the verge of death in those days long past.

Back then, Gustav’s existence was affirmed by the man of those black eyes, and he was deemed worthy.

To that man, he felt a sense of obligation, both for saving his village, and elevating his social status. But, that which Gustav truly harbored loyalty for, it was the salvation of that moment.

If the Emperor told Gustav to stand by until the time of the “emergency” on the Gladiator Island, where the damage from the civil war in the Imperial Capital would not reach, that was what he ought to do.

Gustav: [If the time of “emergency” is now, I must hasten to His Excellency the Emperor’s side.]

Schwartz: [Accompanied by the gladiators, trained in both body and mind, right?]

Gustav: [But, Schwartz, you are… your position is, His Excellency the Emperor’s…]

If Schwartz was the rumored illegitimate child of the Emperor, if he was the black-haired Crown Prince, then his goal would be to usurp the Imperial Throne, and it would be tantamount to Gustav sinking his fangs into the Emperor, to whom he had such a great obligation.

In that case, would it not be a mistake for Gustav to proceed in accordance with Schwartz’s will?

And would it not also be the kind of mistake that could not be undone?

Schwartz: [The fact that I came here, is the answer to that.]

Gustav: [――――]

While Gustav silently remained in deep thought, Schwartz suddenly spoke in a quiet voice.

Schwartz was still in the shadow of Gustav’s large figure, and with a sharp look in his eyes, he firmly pushed his fist against Gustav’s chest, and,

Schwartz: [I can’t show anything for it. I have no evidence. All I can give you are my true, unfiltered intentions.]

Gustav: [What are you…]

Schwartz: [In order to protect the Vollachian Empire, accompany me to the Imperial Capital.]

Gustav: [――――]

Schwartz: [If you cooperate with me, I shall never let you be known as a man who betrayed the Emperor.]

Truly, without presenting anything, these words merely made a straightforward appeal.

If this was the Emperor, Vincent, the margin for Gustav’s choice would be shaved away, and numerous artifices would have been arranged to lead to the result of the Emperor’s desire, controlling the hearts of others through a sense of defeat.

For a moment, it seemed as though he could see a glimpse of that in Schwartz, but――,

Gustav: [――In my capacity, I have placed my final pebble; is it concluded?]

Schwartz: […Yeah, with that, Reversi has concluded.]

Looking down on the game board, the white pieces had reigned supreme ever since the mid-game. Without that supremacy being overturned, the final move had colored most of the board white.

Despite it being a game that he himself had planned, brimming with confidence as he brought it in, it was a complete defeat.

Gustav: [So, you brought a game that you did not expect to win?]

Schwartz: [My skill at Reversi is decent… but, to be honest, the critical moment this time was whether or not I could persuade Gustav-san, so I couldn’t really concentrate on the game at all.]

Gustav: […But, Schwartz, your true match lay not on this board, hm?]

Following the rules of the game, the victor here was undoubtedly Gustav.

If the promise of the Sparka were to be fulfilled, Schwartz and his men would abandon their operation, and the Gladiator Island would return to the usual administration it had had until this morning; it would return to the state that Gustav had imposed upon it.

However――,

Gustav: [――. You have made both me, as the official, and yourself, the victors of the Sparka, hm?]

If it was not a fight to the death, but rather a clash of convictions, then there was a possibility of a conclusion whether neither party would yield.

Certainly, what Schwartz had spoken of was logic that he could agree with.

Schwartz: [Gustav-san, since I lost Reversi, I’ll have everyone disperse. But, what will you do?]

Since victory or defeat upon the board was secondary to him, Schwartz’s words were that of understanding that the true outcome lay here.

Having presented victory conditions that Gustav had not realized, making him understand, and after a great amount of confusion, Schwartz had made use of all the trump cards he possessed at this final showdown.

Gustav: [――――]

For a beat, he closed his eyes, took a deep breath, and the conflict that had persisted within Gustav for a long, long time, finally came to an end.

That conflict was something that had been present ever since the time he had taken up office as the Governor of the Gladiator Island; thus――,

Gustav: [One thing I shall tell you, Schwartz.]

Schwartz: [Yeah?]

Gustav: [Many times now, I have let many opportunities to activate the Curse Rule pass due to conjecture about your position. But, this decision is by no means a result of any speculation regarding you. ――Especially, in this time of “emergency”.]

Stating thus, Gustav retracted his two upper arms which he had placed on the table, and unfolded his two lower arms which had been crossed―― With all of his four arms, he shook hands with the boy who held his arm out.

When he saw the boy’s face sulk upon hearing the sound of the word “speculation”, Gustav Morello’s conviction as a Governor was protected, and he let out an audible laugh, so very uncharacteristic of himself.

《To Be Continued》

Brotherhood of Pleiades – Part 3

Translated by: @garmadoncar

Proofread by: Cirdan Lunae

Note: The following side story contains spoilers for Arc 7. It takes place after the end of Volume 31 (Web Novel Arc 7 Chapter 75), but may also spoil certain events that happen near the end of Arc 7. Ensure you have read the previous parts before this one.

1

???: [――Please don’t think ill of me, Boss.]

Sitting cross-legged on the desk, chin rested in hand, the blue-haired boy gave an indifferent smile.

That smile was abhorrently the same as ever, and for that reason, Subaru clearly understood that it was not a joke or anything of the sort.

In both the boy’s smile and voice, there was no sarcasm or hostility to be found.

A matter of course. When people dressed up their words, it was more or less because they had some intentions. Thus, when they did so, it was to increase the chances of fulfilling their objective, even if only by a little.

However, if one had no such need for those kinds of petty tricks, and they could achieve one hundred percent of their object through nothing but their own power, then the thought of playing with their words was something that would not even pass through the corners of their mind.

To be precise, that was undoubtedly the laughing boy’s―― Cecilus Segmunt’s, way of being.

Subaru: [Ceci…]

Cecilus: [Such a feeble voice will make your stocks plummet, y’know? I know I said, “Please don’t think ill of me,” but if thinking ill of me leads to a considerable improvement in the display of Boss’s proficiency, then please feel free to think ill of me. For me, I think it’s best to prioritize whichever one makes you shine brighter.]

“Boss”, and “Ceci”; even when calling each other by their nicknames, the atmosphere between the two did not subside.

Normally, if it was a close relationship where nicknames were used, lots more discretion would be utilized. But, he could not hope for such a thing with Cecilus. After all, rather than a gap between their hearts, what divided Subaru and Cecilus was more like a gap between their ways of living.

This gap was not something that could be filled by merely having nicknames or living alongside each other.

A tiger and a Dragon could not understand one another―― no, considering the difference in strength, a tortoise and a hare might be more suitable. Anyhow, as living beings who differed by a great deal, understanding each other would be difficult.

???: [Segmunt-sama, are you sane?]

Outstretching her arms to protect Subaru, it seemed that Tanza shared the same opinion.

Harboring vigilance in her large irises, the young girl clad was in a kimono; receiving the glint in the eyes from that girl of characteristic deer antlers, Cecilus gave an “Oya” and facetiously raised his eyebrows.

Cecilus: [That’s a meaningless question, Tanza-san. You’re not able to tell on which side of the path of sanity I’ve been whimsically walking down, now are you? How do you intend to compare the world I see against what you deem to be the opposite side of sanity?]

Tanza: [Schwartz-sama, somehow it seems like he is sane.]

Subaru: [Seems like it.]

As Cecilus spoke incessantly in a way that would make anyone want to suspect the existence of a script, bitterness was mixed into Tanza’s tone. Subaru shrugged his shoulders at that information, and he desperately made a face that did not reveal his inner feelings.

Otherwise, it would be discovered that a cold sweat was running down his back at the very unexpectedness of the situation. If that were to be exposed, he had no idea what Cecilus would do next.

Subaru: [Shit…]

Even at the best of times, Cecilus was a problem child who could not be patient and brought about situations like this.

He had intended on understanding that Cecilus was difficult to deal with, but realized that it had truly been nothing but an intention. Just what in the world should he do?

Cecilus: [Well now let’s see, I wonder if Boss’s “True Sight” will be able to overcome my whimsy?]

Just how much did he know? Flashing his white teeth, Cecilus spouted a loathsome remark.

In the truest sense, he had pierced the crux of Subaru’s Return by Death―― The fact that it seemed like he was even doing that by instinct, was Cecilus’s most troublesome quality.

Gnawing his molars at that troublesomeness, Subaru shouted while knowing it was mostly pointless.

Subaru: [Why… Why did you betray me, Ceci!!?]

So he shouted.

2

――Let us rewind the clock to a few days before that troublesome confrontation.

???: [It’s no good! No matter where ya look, there ain’t nothin’ left!]

???: [The armory and food cellar are also empty! There are also ashes mixed into the water! It ain’t drinkable!]

???: [They also thoroughly killed the Brave Oxen for the beast carriages… What an impudent bunch…!]

With bittersweet emotions of confusion, lament, and indignation, they had brought back such a report.

As they had triumphantly marched into the stronghold to examine the interior, this was the result of him excitedly waiting for the report they had to give. In short, hearing that there was no gain, Subaru, at his wit’s end, held his head.

Subaru: [Goddammit! That bastard, the damn nerve to do this!]

Directly on the receiving end of that targeted harassment, the face of the offender immediately came to Subaru’s mind.

Without a doubt, the one who had done this was Subaru’s worst enemy―― Todd Fang.

Visiting the Gladiator Island as an emissary, Todd was the perpetrator behind the tragedy that massacred every person on the island. In order to prevent that horrible future, Subaru threw down the gauntlet for a second lap around the Gladiator Island.

And thus, in a display of excellence, he had gained all of the island’s gladiators as his allies, and had even won over those on the side of the guards, who, by all rights should have been his enemies; hence, he had succeeded in preventing Todd from disembarking.

Having certainly achieved a perfect victory, Subaru and his gladiator comrades of around six-hundred people had become ecstatic.

Believing they were unbeatable, they finally rushed out from the island, and began their journey with their sights set on the Imperial Capital―― And then, their first hurdle ended up being the lookout stronghold that was located on the shore opposite to the island.

It was a small stronghold used to operate the drawbridge connecting the island with the far shore, and it also had the objective of inspecting the beast carriages going in and out of the island; at most, there would be a limit of twenty people stationed there.

As previously mentioned, the number of gladiators that Subaru had enlisted as allies was six-hundred. It had been something that was very difficult to deal with.

Subaru: [Though, during the time when we were all a bit flustered as we left the island, I was incredibly surprised when Ceci immediately ran off to capture the stronghold and burn the flag…]

Cecilus: [Nah, I heedlessly did that because of all the pent-up frustration I had from being treated like my participation wasn’t needed. Be that as it may, capturing the stronghold isn’t really all that incredible. I guess in story-terms, it’s an activity on the level of being finished between the lines.]

Subaru: […In reality, this isn’t an episode that can be compared with Ceci’s monstrous chronicles.]

In the corner of Subaru’s vision as he muttered that, the flag burned, and Cecilus laughed “Right?” as he shouldered the pole which no longer had anything to hoist.

That indifferent attitude seemed entirely as if it did not share in the same sense of impending crisis as Subaru and the others.

Indeed, that sense of impending crisis was――,

Tanza: [Just as Hiain-sama and the rest have reported, it seems that the stronghold has been completely abandoned. Because of this, we are unable to collect any rations or water whatsoever.]

Subaru: [I guess it makes sense to burn and throw these things away if they’re going to be captured and used by the enemy. But even though they tucked tail and ran, they still had the damn nerve to do such underhanded things…!]

In front of Tanza as she summed up the report, Subaru kicked a nearby wooden box with all his strength. It hurt his toes very much. Absolutely all of this was the fault of that bandana man.

Tanza: [Schwartz-sama, is this the doing of the Private First-Class of whom you spoke?]

Subaru: [No doubt about it. He’s the kinda guy who precisely does the most undesirable things. But man, no way he went as far as to throw ashes into the water.]

As Subaru placed his hand to his forehead in lamentation, Tanza was having difficulty thinking about what they should do in response.

Given their position, even Tanza, with whom Subaru was the most open about his thoughts out of all his comrades, could not share in his feelings without personally experiencing the peril and troublesomeness of Todd.

Thus, Subaru did not expect Tanza to understand to that extent either.

It would be fine if Subaru was the only one to experience the menace of such a frightening, outrageous opponent. At the very least, even she ought to have understood his troublesomeness from the skill of his withdrawal.

Subaru: [At times like these, I become keenly aware of just how useful it would be to have magic. If you can produce water and ice with magic, then something can be done about thirst and hunger…]

Tanza: [Regardless of quenching thirst using water, is ice not incapable of averting hunger?]

Subaru: [There’s the strategy of having the bloated tummy distract from an empty stomach, and there’s also the method of eating shaved ice. Magic has infinite possibilities.]

Tanza: [Though, I do not get the impression that there are infinite ways to use it…]

Whether it was because she was not very familiar with magic, or because Subaru gave a poor example, Tanza tilted her head with a face unable to comprehend the usefulness of magic.

He was just about to exhaust his words endeavoring to restore the honor of magic, but the current priority was not to elevate the status of magic, of which there were no users present, and instead was a more immediate problem.

???: [As a result of Segmunt’s efforts, our allies have suffered no damages. But, it seems we cannot merely stay with our hands raised in joy. Without the replenishment of resources, all of us shall eventually ebb away.]

Subaru: [Ugu…]

???: [Even if you incite others with spirited words, appreciation shall not follow if results are not produced. Though it may be strict, the fact that you are a juvenile shall not become an excuse for errors in your judgment.]

As his thoughtlessness was pointed out by a stern voice, Subaru was at a loss for words.

With a terrifying expression akin to a demon, Gustav folded his four burly arms.

Considering the situation he had been placed in, that merciless remark was a natural development.

Subaru: [I know. We can’t afford to stumble and fall like this right at the start. After all the trouble we went through to have Gustav-san betray the Emperor and come with us…!]

Gustav: [――. I cannot help but say that such a perception and manner of speaking are somewhat vexing for me, in my capacity.]

With a heavy sigh, Gustav cautioned so; however, that seemed to be a rather humane attitude.

While bearing the obligation of the Governor of the Gladiator Island, Gustav took the island’s guards and aided in the prison escape of Subaru and the six-hundred gladiators. That was unmistakably a large decision capable of ruining his life’s career, and if it resulted in failure, he would naturally be subjected to execution.

Since he had made Gustav believe that such a decision was worth it, and piled up steady steps to make him go all in, Subaru was responsible for Gustav’s life.

――No, not just Gustav, that went for everyone who had decided to follow Subaru.

Subaru: [I gathered them all, and I will lead them all. That’s the Schwarnia Family.]

Gustav: [Generally, I have no reservations about the name, but I earnestly implore you to fulfill your duty. If you are unable to do so…]

Subaru: [If I am unable to do so?]

Gustav: [As the official, I will have no choice but to swiftly resume my original obligations as Governor.]

Since his tone of voice did not seem like he was joking, Subaru became startled that the statement was likely not a joke.

Though it was a matter of course, the original obligations of Governor referred to the duty of the Chief of the Gladiator Island.

In other words――,

Subaru: [That means, forcing everyone to go back to the island?]

Gustav: [If there is no choice, thus shall it be so. However――]

???: [――Oi oi oi, ya bastard, ya sure are talkin’ a whole lot ain’t’cha!?]

Subaru: [Huh, oi!!]

As Subaru timidly asked a question, Gustav mercilessly gave the Governor’s answer. And, upon hearing that, someone poked their head out from the side, and voiced their thoughts, the vigor of which took Subaru aback.

Lashing out at Gustav with a shrill voice was one of Subaru’s comrades from his Unit, Hiain. While glaring at Gustav with his characteristically cute Lizardman eyes,

Hiain: [Even tho if it weren’t for bro, those emissaries that we repelled would’ve prolly rampaged ‘round the island, how the hell could’ya have complaints!? You ungrateful little…]

Gustav: [In my capacity, I am not declaring any dissatisfaction, Yatz. Additionally, using only Schwartz’s report in regards to the intentions of the emissaries is entirely one-sided. Whether that was the truth or not cannot be said objectively without first hearing the opinion of the other side.]

Hiain: [The fuck d’ya mean “objectively”!? Bro is our ally! His enemy is our enemy! That’s all there is to it!]

Subaru: [Wait wait wait, you’re getting way too worked up!]

As if he had been irritated by Subaru and Gustav’s previous exchange, the vigor and harshness of Hiain’s tone was not anything ordinary. Be that as it may, since the reasoning had been irrational, and he was grateful that Gustav had become his comrade, Subaru was about to stab Hiain in the back.

Subaru: [Don’t let your temper get the better of you so suddenly! Gustav-san was just giving me a little push forward telling me to get myself together.]

Gustav: [That is not a thought I can affirm, Schwartz. There are no lies in my words, as the official.]

Subaru: [Since this is getting a bit complicated, just make a scary face and glare!]

As he was about to stab Hiain in the back, Subaru himself was stabbed in the back by Gustav. His desperate appeal was silenced with a “Hmph” by Gustav; however, Hiain’s vigor did not abate.

And as he intensified his vigor with a “Look at that!”,

Hiain: [As expected, we ain’t gonna get along with the administration! Ya gotta be careful, bro!]

Subaru: [Ah, dammit, it’s all gotten too distorted.]

Hiain: [There ain’t no need to act modestly. The Curse Rule’s already been dispelled. No matter how self-important the Governor acts, our side’s got strength in numbers!]

Subaru: [What a refreshingly minor-character-level declaration!]

Despite being a scaredy-cat who was weak in scuffles, it was very much like Hiain to ride a favorable wind at full speed. Subaru greatly admired the worldly wisdom of betting on the winning horse, but Hiain had misjudged one major thing.

Subaru: [Just to let you know, Gustav is still in possession of the Curse Tool. Hence, it’s wrong to assume he will never put a curse on us again.]

Hiain: [Is that so? Fine, that’s as far as I’ll go for today!]

Subaru: [What a refreshingly minor-character-level move!]

Hiain, who possessed the ability to camouflage himself to blend into his surroundings, quite literally made a pale face and left a parting threat as he hopped to hide behind Subaru.

Gustav: [Schwartz, I do not wish to say strict things to the members of your Unit, but…]

Subaru: [I know. I’ll give Hiain some proper admonishment later.]

Gustav: [That would be preferable. In my capacity, I do not wish to stir any meaningless trouble.]

Those were certainly his true feelings, but his warning from beforehand was also probably his true feelings.

Gustav was someone who was able to separate his pragmatic duties and desires, and come to a proper judgment. His Sparka with Subaru on the Gladiator Island resulted in nothing more than a slight deviation in that judgment.

If he saw a need to come to his senses, Gustav could easily wake up from this dream at any time. To continue showing him that dream, that was Subaru’s current responsibility.

Anyhow――,

Tanza: [That is enough joking around. Schwartz-sama, I am sure you have realized, but…]

Subaru: […About the food and water supplies?]

Tanza: [――Yes.]

Having spoken in a hushed voice, Tanza frowned her round eyebrows and nodded at Subaru’s words.

As previously mentioned, the members of Subaru’s group were a large family surpassing six-hundred people. In addition to being a number greater than the total student-base of an ordinary elementary school, practically all of them were adults. To make matters worse, since the guards had brought along the Gladiator Beasts as fighting assets, the level of lunch provisions at an elementary school would not be enough to cater to their stomachs.

Of course, when they left captivity, they brought all the contents of the island’s storehouses with them, but even if they divided meals into once in the morning and once in the evening, the hard truth was that it would only last for two days.

When they had captured this stronghold, he had hoped that they could stock up even a little bit, but that had been thoroughly crushed by Todd. Abhorrent.

Tanza: [This is the western edge of the Empire, and our objective of the Imperial Capital is far to the east. We are very much lacking in food and water supplies.]

Subaru: [I don’t want to make everyone feel hungry.]

Tanza: [That is part of it, but more simply it will become a factor for anxiety… An empty stomach famishes not only the body, but also the mind.]

What was rather difficult to ignore, was the very somber tone of Tanza’s voice.

That was something that just having lots of knowledge could not produce, for there was a weight housed therein that was only possible in the voices of those who have personally experienced such a thing. That was the case for Tanza.

Was that an experience of actually being so starved that her mind had withered away, or an experience of witnessing a person that famished?

Subaru: [――――]

Subaru did not laugh off Tanza’s anxious feelings as an exaggeration.

Even while living on the Gladiator Island that threatened one’s life, meals and a bed were guaranteed. Paradoxically, in order to maintain order in that harsh environment, those things were absolutely indispensable.

If he could not maintain those, what awaited him was the collapse of this group.

Cecilus: [If it’s a large family, the lack of money in your pockets will swoop down on you… it’s plain and there’s no way to make it flashy, but with this it seems like you’ve crashed into a rather difficult problem.]

Subaru: [You’re saying it like it’s someone else’s problem, but Ceci also has an insanely large appetite.]

Cecilus: [Hahaha, no matter what you tell me, I won’t give in or endure the state of my stomach. I have no interest or concern in your financial or money situation. After all, it is the duty of the main actor to receive an appropriate return for the role he plays.]

While poking the flagpole into the ground, the cheerfully smiling Cecilus was quite the glutton despite having such a small build.

Even though indulging oneself was absurd for life on the Gladiator Island, Cecilus still indulged himself to the extent that he might put on weight. With his small physique, he was able to make quick work of three adult meal portions. Furthermore, while other gladiators had to bear with only two meals a day, he would eat a third and even a fourth meal.

His current declaration seemed to indicate that he felt no sense of weight on himself beyond this point.

Subaru: [Should I have Gustav-san curse Ceci as to not be able to eat three meals?]

Cecilus: [Oyaoya, Boss. Aren’t you underestimating me a little too much? Even if you curse me to die if I eat three meals, I’ll get my hands on some bread when my stomach starts to rumble. It’s important that I maintain a healthy good-looking appearance.]

Tanza: [In the first place, would the curse really work on Segmunt-sama? What if he is able to outrun the curse?]

Subaru: [He’d die. I can guarantee that.]

Cecilus: [I don’t understand how he could guarantee that but if Boss says so then I guess I’d die!]

The threat that he had no intention of following through on was meaningless, as Cecilus was utterly indifferent to the topic of his own life.

In reality, Subaru had witnessed him lose his life at the activation of the Curse Rule, but at that time too, his attitude was that of not fearing death to an unthinkable extent, so this was not an attempted bluff or anything of the sort.

Subaru: [Anyway, it would be annoying to lose to the hungry Ceci’s point. This isn’t the time for us to go along with the saying “You can’t fight on an empty stomach”. Gustav-san, where’s the closest stronghold from here?]

Gustav: [It is around half a day east. It is also a considerably larger stronghold than this one.]

Subaru: [Alright, let’s head for there!]

Relying on Gustav’s knowledge, Subaru decided on their next destination. Nobody opposed that decision of Subaru’s. That was because everyone had made up their minds that Subaru was the leader of this group.

Subaru: [I’m grateful. But, that’s a lot of pressure.]

Until now, even though Subaru had filled the top position of groups for short periods of time in this other world, he had never experienced being in charge of a group on this scale for such a long-term.

Only now that he had reached this position, could he truly feel it for the first time. ――The heavy burden, of being at the apex.

Subaru: [Something like wanting to return to the position of Emperor, what a pervert.]

On the verge of being crushed with having just unified the gladiators of the island, Subaru was reminded of the annoying face of someone attempting to reign over something much, much larger than that, and he made a sulky face as he muttered so.

3

――Afterwards, Subaru’s group spent half a day heading east, and succeeded in finding the stronghold from Gustav’s knowledge without trouble.

Differing from the small stronghold that aimed to monitor the Gladiator Island, this stronghold was surrounded by stone walls, and was a splendid thing fulfilling the role of a checkpoint, so they had hopes of what was contained inside.

However――,

???: [Uooooh! There ain’t nothin’ in the storehouse! Ain’t nothin’ but dust scattered ‘round!]

???: [This time, there’s even shit and piss in the water well…?]

???: [How much of a fool are they gonna make of us… stop fucking messing around…!]

As revealed by the sorrowful complaints of Hiain and the others, their hopes were betrayed yet again.

The storehouse was empty, and the well water had been made useless. The stronghold, which had taken Brave Oxen, Galewind Horses, and even ground dragons for use in beast carriages, had been abandoned before Subaru’s group had invaded.

And yet, it had not merely been abandoned.

Subaru: [They even went as far as to set up a trap so that when we opened the food cellar, a magic stone would explode…]

Cecilus: [Well, if it hadn’t been me who rushed ahead first we might have very well lost a considerable number of people. Fortunately I have legs that can outrun an explosion.]

Subaru: [Yeah. I’m glad that Ceci is a monster who can outrun explosions.]

Cecilus: [Couldn’t you at least call me a monster? If you add a little bit to make it a “good-looking monster” then I think we can come to an agreement, don’t you think?]

(Translation note: After Subaru calls Cecilus a 化け物 (bakemono – monster), Cecilus requests Subaru to call him a 怪物 (kaibutsu – monster) instead. This is probably because Cecilus thinks 怪物 is a cooler word. I have used italics to differentiate the two.)

Tanza: [Still, would Segmunt-sama be able to run free from a curse?]

While fed up by Cecilus’s useless declaration, Tanza gazed at the corner of the stronghold that had been blown away.

The explosion that caused the stone-built fortress to lurch had a level of power such that its explosive inferno could even be seen rising from a good distance away. In reality, if Cecilus had not been so gluttonous, everyone caught in the trap would have been erased, leaving no trace.

But, even though there were no visible injuries, the report of there being no results was something akin to an attack.

In both the abandonment of the stronghold, and the trap with the magic stone, he could feel the participation of Todd.

Subaru: [No matter how you look at it, there’s no way he’d have them abandon every single stronghold…]

Since he had no idea the extent to which Todd’s hands had reached, any careless course of action would be unwise.

Without even having come face-to-face, even though there was no way for him to be cognizant of his existence, Todd’s manner of doing things irked Subaru in all the worst ways.

Subaru: [That there would be no results here, goes completely against my expectations.]

Anticipating there to be something to be gained from the stronghold, they had taken quite the forced march for half a day to get here.

Since he had tried to mask their anxiety as they gradually approached by singing and dancing as they advanced, they had been consuming water and food more intensely than they would have normally.

At this rate, they were in danger of realizing Tanza’s fears that they would collapse due to their minds withering away.

???: [Schwartz, don’t be so worried…]

Then, patting the worrying Subaru’s shoulder, Weitz called out to him.

Having eagerly looked around the stronghold both this time and last time, he was much more vexed than the others at the fact that they came back empty-handed. Even so, he could not just do nothing after seeing Subaru’s somber expression.

As Weitz traced the skull-like tattoo on his own face,

Weitz: [Ya shouldn’t feel down ‘cuz of this kinda dirty trick…]

Subaru: [Weitz…]

Weitz: [It’ll be fine even if ya feed that rowdy bunch with dirt… if that still ain’t enough, we do have this many people… if we attack and pillage some of the towns and villages along the way…]

Subaru: [Weitz!?]

As Weitz tried to encourage him, a part that immensely bothered him came forth. Subaru’s voice unconsciously overturned, but Weitz frowned and made a confused face.

It was just as if to say that he had not said anything strange.

Weitz: [What…?]

Subaru: [No matter what, that’s a no go!]

Weitz: [――?]

Subaru: [Pillaging, stealing, and robbery, we won’t be doing any of those kinds of things! Those are absolutely prohibited!]

Weitz: [What the fuck…?]

Subaru made an “X” with his arms and raised such an appeal, and Weitz’s face showed surprise from the bottom of his heart.

Subaru understood that Weitz’s natural idea to include pillaging among their options was due to a difference in the environments they had grown up in. But, that was something not limited to just Weitz.

Hearing the current dispute between Subaru and Weitz, the other gladiators exchanged baffled looks.

Gladiator: [No pillaging… are you sane, Schwartz?]

Gladiator: [How are we gonna get food without pillaging? It ain’t something that just grows from the ground.]

Gladiator: [It probably does grow from there, but we ain’t got any idea of how to grow it!]

Subaru: [Oi oi oi oi.]

Subaru was dumbfounded by the dangerous notions being clamorously voiced by the gladiators. However, the fact that that was not some kind of gladiator dark humor, was evident from their true-to-life faces.

As expected, having become criminals in the Vollachian Empire, a land on the verge of becoming a lawless area, they were an elite group of people who lacked common sense and had been sent to the Gladiator Island. Still, since the majority of the people of the Vollachian Empire lacked common sense, the elite were the most prominent among them.

Anyhow――,

Subaru: [Wait! Please wait! Everyone, listen up!]

While calling out to the obstreperous surroundings, Subaru attempted to convey his will.

But, the discussion of the heated gladiators could not really be stopped.

If the food situation truly deteriorated, they would likely heavily push for the option to pillage.

That had kept the disorder in check until now, but it collapsed with pillaging having become prohibited.

Weitz: [Ya win what ya desire with strength… that’s the way of the Empire… Both ya and the rest of us, we won our freedom through strength, didn’t we…]

Representing the disorder of the gladiators, Weitz tried to correct Subaru’s mistake. In response, Subaru shook his head saying “No, that’s wrong”.

Subaru: [It’s true that we fought. But that was all in order to gain through victory. Not in order to steal.]

Weitz: [It’s the same…!]

Subaru: [It’s entirely different!]

As Weitz strengthened his tone saying they ought to pick the rational choice, Subaru objected. Weitz’s eyes widened at the volume of that voice, and Subaru stared at him as he continued.

Subaru: [Though getting something through victory and getting something through stealing may seem similar, they are different things. I am willing to fight to win things, but I don’t want to fight to steal things.]

Weitz: [Schwartz…]

Subaru tightly clenched his fist as he answered, and in response, the wrinkles in Weitz’s brow deepened. Thereupon, in response to Subaru’s intense declaration, Idra raised his hand and interjected with a “But”. Compared to the other gladiators, he stared at Subaru with a somewhat calm gaze, and,

Idra: [How do you specifically differentiate between those two? Everyone in the surroundings here, myself included, do not know that method.]

Subaru: [Well, it’s not really that difficult. After all, all of you should know how to make that distinction.]

Answering such to Idra’s question, Subaru suddenly jumped on top of a nearby wooden crate.

Elevating his point of view, Subaru gazed over his surroundings, and took a deep breath. In order to ensure that his words could reach all the people who had accompanied him off the island, who had not yet heard the current conversation, he raised his voice.

Subaru: [Listen up! As we continue heading for the Imperial Capital, we will not pillage any towns or villages! That’s the rule of our team… of this group!]

Everyone: [――――]

Subaru: [From here on out, all our battles will be for the sake of gaining through victory! They will absolutely not be for the sake of stealing! We won’t fight to steal! I want you all to keep it that way!]

As Subaru asserted so in a raised voice, a moment of silence was born, and exploded immediately after.

That it was even louder than before, was likely more so due to discomposure instead of opposition. From them, who were very accustomed to the ways of the Empire, the choice to not steal had not even been pre-installed to begin with.

Gustav: [I understand your assertion. But, as to whether it can be called a realistic view…]

Subaru: [Gustav-san…]

Even within the commotion of the gladiators, he could clearly hear the coherent voice of Gustav.

Having participated in searching the stronghold, Gustav was also aware of the uneasiness regarding the resources they had brought from the island. Narrowing his eyes, which were still at a higher elevation than Subaru’s, even with the latter standing on top of a wooden crate,

Gustav: [In my capacity, I do not endorse the act of pillaging. But, things remain exactly as I have expressed before. Supposing this campaign reaches an undesirable conclusion, in my capacity and as the official, I will carry out my professional duties.]

Hiain: [Th-that bastard, he still has the nerve to intend on betraying us…!]

Subaru: [Hiain, shut up for a sec.]

Gustav’s statement was not yet a pronouncement that he would reinvoke the Curse Rule. Silencing Hiain, who had overreacted and came to that conclusion prematurely, Subaru urged Gustav to continue.

Gustav: [You are likely aware, but in my capacity, I am accompanying you following a rather major decision. Since I have gone that far, I have no choice but to exhaust all possible measures to procure favorable results.]

Subaru: [Of course, I know. Lip service won’t fill our bellies, and our throats are still thirsty.]

Gustav: [Well then, do you happen to possess any sort of alternative plan?]

Subaru: [That’s…]

In response to Gustav’s stern question, Subaru took a moment to contemplate, given how important this answer would be.

If he failed to be careful with selecting his words here, this gladiator alliance would collapse before they even participated in battle, and everyone would be dragged back to the island once again. If that came to pass, he had something prepared within his mouth in order to “re-select” as soon as possible.

But, he did not want to relinquish the present which had been proceeding so favorably until now――,

Cecilus: [――You’ve misunderstood Boss’s thinking a little, Gustav-san.]

Subaru: [――――]

That instant, cutting into Subaru’s moment of silence, Cecilus carelessly shrugged his shoulders.

The boy attracted the gazes of Subaru, Gustav, and all the other people present onto himself, and loosening his lips as if he was enjoying all that attention,

Cecilus: [It’s not that Boss is grumbling that he doesn’t want to gain food and water without the exchange of any money or goods. To say that “gaining through victory” and “gaining through stealing” are different things lies within the realm of wordplay but that is what is hindering everyone from understanding. They have pretty much the same meaning so you could say it was a rather clever choice of words, but…]

Gustav: [Segmunt, I am having trouble understanding what you intend to say. Explain it in a way that even I, in my capacity, can understand.]

Cecilus: [The very fact that we are in a slump after finding the contents of the stronghold empty means that collecting the resources from the stronghold was a safe condition for Boss. In other words it’s a problem regarding the level of the opponent. We can steal from wolves, we won’t steal from dogs or rabbits.]

Subaru: [――――]

Cecilus: [That’s what you mean right, Boss?]

Tilting his head, Cecilus inquired of Subaru, who was on top of the wooden crate.

Thus, this time everyone’s attention gathered on Subaru, and he reluctantly nodded.

For the most part, Cecilus’s point was correct.

However――,

Subaru: [Even if the opponent is a wolf, it’s ideal to use the phrase “Gaining through victory”.]

Cecilus: [Hahaha, it’s good that you have a hangup about that. Without something like that then it would just be following an absurd plot that doesn’t know what point to focus on. Be that as it may…]

Subaru: [――?]

Cecilus: [There are many cases where a plot that just aims to be unconventional for that sake of it becomes a trash piece of work that’s hard to watch. Just like Gustav-san, that isn’t something that I desire.]

Cecilus closed a single eye as he spoke those words, and they gave the impression that they were as sharp as glass. Thin and brittle, but sharp. Such an act of damage-control from Cecilus was painful to Subaru’s ears.

Then, even after hearing that exchange, many of the gladiators still could not come to an understanding.

???: [Strongholds that have enemies are fine, but we can’t attack villages and towns…?]

???: [What the hell, what does Schwartz want to do?]

???: [If ya really wanna give it to His Excellency the Emperor… to yer old man, then this ain’t the time for us to be starvin’!]

Loudly raising their voices, they were trying to get closer to Subaru due to the vexing matter. Despite this, that thoughtfulness was a fatal deviation from Subaru’s desires.

With the disconnect in their sense of values as it was, he did not want to proceed with forcibly silencing their discontent.

However, would he be able to figure out what to do?

Tanza: [――Sparka.]

Subaru: [Eh…?]

Tanza: [Well, I thought if you explained Sparka, perhaps everybody would be able to understand.]

Indeed, the one who offered a ray of light to the worried Subaru was Tanza, who had been deliberating by his side this whole time.

Concerning Subaru’s claim, which had been unable to clear up the question marks from many of the gladiators, including the three from his Unit, Tanza had sympathized despite her general sensitivity, unlike Cecilus, who displayed comprehension born out of a lack of common sense.

Since he could not think of her suggestion as anything but that, Subaru became fraught with emotion.

His chest became ardent at the fact that Tanza had earnestly wracked her head to try and convey Subaru’s views.

Tanza: [Schwartz-sama?]

Subaru: [Ah, no, sorry, I just got a few tears in my eyes. ――Everyone! Tanza said it in a way that’s easy to understand! Tanza did! This adorable girl did! In a way that’s easy to understand!]

Tanza: [P-please stop! We are getting off topic!]

Subaru: [Ow ow ow! Don’t pinch my thigh!]

Though Subaru just wanted everyone to share in the deep emotion he was experiencing, it was Tanza herself, her face flushed red, who pinched his thigh and set him back.

Then, as Subaru’s eyes became teary, this time due to the pain,

Subaru: [We’re gladiators! That which we ought to do is Sparka, not stuff like one-sided pillaging! To begin with, that’s what it means to do battle.]

Everyone: [――――]

Subaru: [I get that you have complaints. But from here on out, when I end up clashing with my father… with the Vollachian Emperor in the Imperial Capital, I won’t be able to win if I’m cowardly, selfish and lame.]

That was not a matter of logic, but it was rather of an emotional nature, and perhaps even regarding the intensity of his soul.

A clash with the Vollachian Emperor―― At the very least, he seriously intended to throw down the gauntlet with the fake Emperor. He did not know what kind of objective the fake Emperor was aiming for when he had ousted Abel from the throne.

But, he did not think that the deeds of a mere coward who lacked conviction could have done such a thing.

In that case, what awaited him in the Imperial Capital was a battle with a powerful enemy who harbored strong convictions―― In other words, it was Sparka, and there was no way that Subaru’s distorted self would stand a chance.

In order to gain victory, it was necessary. ――The unwavering conviction of Natsuki Subaru, was.

Subaru: [Though, conviction might not actually be such an impressive thing, but rather just being stubborn.]

If that stubbornness was what had gotten Subaru through the Gladiator Island, and all of his life in this other world up until now, then his bad temper and improficiency at giving up were things he could never let go of.

Everyone: [――――]

At Subaru’s proclamation, silence was born among the gladiators once again.

There was no commotion, but there was a clear confusion left in the silence. Even when the contents were simplified and conveyed, their reactions were to say that they had yet to reach an understanding.

However, tearing through that silence, a vigorous voice was raised.

That was――,

Hiain: [Hey hey hey! What is it, ya bastards are damn depressing! Bro said he’d do all that! So then he’s gonna do it! If ya can’t believe it then hurry up and go the fuck home, ya tattooed skelly!]

Weitz: [Shut up, lizard-bastard… don’t say such fucking bullshit like that I’d ever doubt Schwartz… You’re the one who oughta be cowering behind a rock…!]

Glaring at each other, swearing at each other, Hiain and Weitz stirred up an unpleasant atmosphere. Lagging one step behind those two, Idra spoke while giving a wry smile,

Idra: [Schwartz, you have no intention of changing your mind, right?]

Subaru: [Ah, yeah, for just this at least. No matter how terribly hungry I get, I absolutely won’t rethink this.]

Idra: [I know just how obstinate you are. After all, we’ve been watching over you from close by.]

The obstinacy Idra spoke of, was that perhaps about when he was running all about, making all the gladiators of the island his allies, or perhaps when he succeeded in persuading Gustav, when even Idra and the rest had thrown in the towel, thinking of it as an absolute impossibility?

Likely, he was referring to all of that, and as Idra smiled,

Idra: [You are our leader, Schwartz. We want to abide by your thoughts as much as we can. Therefore, we have a suggestion. ――Let’s go somewhere, not to dogs or rabbits, but to a place of wolves.]

Subaru: [A dwelling of wolves…]

Weitz: [If we continue a full day northeast from here, there’s a town… It’s Glarasia…]

Hiain: [It’s called the City of Iron and Blood, a famous town where they make stuff like weapons and armor! It’s on the bigger side of towns within the Empire, so if we go there…]

Though it was Weitz and Hiain, who often quarreled with each other, they took turns pushing the conversation forward. While he was listening to them with widened eyes, Subaru shook his head sideways with a “Wait”.

Subaru: [If it’s a big town, there’ll probably be a lot of food and water. But, as for protecting the rule of no pillaging…]

Weitz: [The town isn’t our aim… It’s the fortress of Imperial Soldiers that protects the town…]

Subaru: [――Hk]

Idra: [Across the whole Empire, the revolt against the Imperial Capital is picking up steam. Of course, the fortresses that protect the cities in each will be at the height of rigorous vigilance in preparation for the uprisings in each region. If it’s there, the opponent will not be insufficient.]

Hiain: [The enemy is Glarasia’s Fortress of Iron and Blood! How’s that bro, ain’t it a great idea!?]

Weitz: [Don’t speak like this is yer achievement…!]

Idra nodded, Hiain got carried away, and Weitz clicked his tongue.

Hearing the proposal from those three, Subaru’s mouth was agape in full surprise. Softly placing a small hand over Subaru’s open jaw,

Tanza: [Schwartz-sama, I think their proposal deserves some consideration.]

While speaking, Tanza closed Subaru’s jaw with her hand. She was also impressed by the idea of the trio, but Subaru greatly surpassed merely being impressed, for he was deeply moved.

Subaru: [Even though going along with my thoughts is way out of line with the common sense of the Empire.]

And yet, the trio respected Subaru’s thinking, and suggested a means to bring it to fruition.

Even though persuading Subaru to do things in accordance with the ways of the Empire would have seemed to be the much easier path.

Subaru: [――――]

In order to proceed with a hangup that was nothing more than Subaru’s self-complacency, the three of them had come up with a target.

Fiercely sniffling and covering the tears and snot that were welling up, Subaru clapped both of his hands onto his cheeks. Then, opening his eyes, he could see the faces of his comrades from atop the wooden crate.

Hopes and understanding, confusion and tension, a single trend had yet to be fixed among them, but――,

Subaru: [Let me hear all the details regarding Glarasia. ――In order to keep us from falling apart.]

4

Glarasia, the City of Iron and Blood, was a major city for the arms industry within the Vollachian Empire.

In Vollachia, where conflict never ceased, the demand for weapons was always high, and all day long from morning to night, the sound of forging steel went without pause in Glarasia.

The city made up over half of all the arms that were distributed throughout the Empire, so naturally the importance of Glarasia within the Empire was exceedingly high, and they were allocated a suitable amount of fighting strength for their defenses.

The highest extreme of their defensive capabilities was the stronghold where over a thousand soldiers were always stationed―― The Fortress of Iron and Blood.

In Glarasia, where nearly all the residents of the city were involved in the arms industry in some way or another, though there were many hot-headed individuals, there were few who made a livelihood from fighting itself. Protecting those craftsmen, there was the Fortress of Iron and Blood, an important position in order to ensure the steady supply of weapons, and the commanding officer entrusted with the defense of that important city was an Imperial General Second-Class, the Steel Appraiser.

???: [――Weapons, are beautiful.]

That man, Toledo Spiegel, was dearly in love with weapons.

On the topic of just how much he admired weapons, he had gone so far as to groom the beard around his mouth into the shape of a sword, a demonstration of the love he felt for weapons.

His nimble and slim body standing upright, the man, around the age of forty, was clad in a uniform furnished with a cloak that served as proof of his position of General within the Imperial Army; he stood with his hands joined behind his back as he faced the wall.

The highest floor of the Fortress of Iron and Blood, the office of the building where a great number of Imperial Soldiers were permanently stationed; its wall was adorned with an immense amount of weapons, each and every one of them being part of Toledo’s personal collection.

Toledo: [The skilled craftsmen compete to refine their technique, and forge weapons with the clear objective of taking lives. As that purpose is a simple one, these are excellent articles to express the abilities of their makers.]

Speaking in an enraptured voice filled with heat, Toledo appreciated the weapons on display.

Even in the blade of a single sword, pursuing the ideal sharpness and durability was a herculean task. A thin blade would have an increased sharpness, but the strength of the thin portion would fall. Durability would increase with thickness, but naturally the sharpness would fall proportionally, and would likely approach a blunt state.

That ultimate trial and error of ideals and reality was vividly stuffed into weapons.

That was the reason why Toledo Spiegel was enchanted by weapons, why he had accumulated so many of them, and why he was made out to be a distinguished collector within the Empire. Thus, he became known by the alias of the “Steel Appraiser”, and his discerning eye for weapons served as the reason for him being established in the position of General.

Toledo: [Though I am still imperfect, I have come to handle weapons with more ardor than the average person. Even if the highest peak is still far off, I have confidence in my eye for weapons. The strength and quality of all weapons, whether they suit their owners or not, and even that…]

In this world, there was no shortage of boorish folk who spared no expense in procuring the likes of famed and treasured swords. But, the sight of those very folk wearing unbefitting weapons on their waist was ridiculous.

The amount of times when such people would take a weapon that did not suit their stature, and were pointed out as targets for scornful laughter, were also not few in number.

However, while on one hand those gazes seemed like a disgrace, there were also times when the weapon would match the holder’s stature. That was the charm of weapons, and the spiritual way of being that was demanded of Vollachia’s Sword Wolves.

Toledo: [I do not allow for my subordinates to carry mediocre weapons. By taking a good weapon in hand, I believe that people shall correspond to, and perfectly suit the brilliance of that steel, and it shall enhance their very selves.]

Toledo did not pridefully label himself as having an eye for people.

Instead, he had an eye for weapons. Seeing whether a person was suitable to wield a given weapon, he had acquired such a technique of seeing people through the weapon.

The Imperial Soldiers of the Fortress of Iron and Blood, each of them carried an excellent weapon based on Toledo’s judgment. He could confidently assert that they were all worthy soldiers that he himself had thoroughly trained.

Henceforth――,

Toledo: [Just what happened to those outstanding subordinates of mine?]

???: [――Ah, pardon me. If I remember correctly then everyone did have quite good expressions on their faces but even so it seems that they were too lacking as actors to be able to stop me.]

Behind Toledo, as he posed this question while gazing at a dazzling treasured sword among the collection on the wall, a presence gave a response.

Inside of this fortress where over a thousand powerful Imperial Soldiers were stationed, he had single-handedly reached Toledo’s office, which was the most tenaciously defended, a presence of such immense capability.

Toledo: [Currently, there is unprecedented peril shaking the entirety of the Vollachian Empire. Insolent people going against the glorious authority of His Excellency the Emperor are emerging everywhere, but have you decided if you are one such person?]

???: [I guess you could say so. Though it’s a little upsetting that you think of the group I’m a part of as the same as those other folk. After all, we’re special!]

Toledo: [Hm…]

Mixing in a word that he had no recollection of ever hearing, the lighthearted voice declared so.

While carefully examining that which was within his mind, Toledo reached his hand out to the treasured sword in front of him, and removed it from the wall.

The collection on the wall was varied with swords, spears, axes, hammers, and sickles, but as expected, the sword was most familiar to him. ――Of course, Toledo could sufficiently master any weapon.

He did not want to become someone who just lavishly made use of his money and social status to hoard weapons that he did not even use. For that reason, by the end of his bloodied training, Toledo had been able to rise to the rank of General Second-Class.

As that very Toledo turned around, his eyes met with those of the blue-haired child standing in the entrance to the door.

As a small teenage child, he was likely younger than even Toledo’s four children. However, the moment they faced each other here, it became an impossibility that he was merely a child as suggested by his appearance.

However, Toledo was unable to accurately grasp just how strong this child was beyond the fact that he had reached the top floor.

The reason was――,

Toledo: [Without taking up a weapon, you were able to arrive here empty-handed?]

Child: [Yep, I’m barehanded. I don’t know if you’ll believe me, but I don’t have any kind of concealed weapon either.]

Toledo: [I believe you. I do not sense the presence of concealed weapons coming from you.]

For himself, who had confidence in his love for weapons, it was necessary for him to also have deep knowledge of concealed weapons that were meant for assassinations and surprise attacks.

The act of carrying concealed weapons had the inherent objective of concealment, but Toledo was able to feel their unique presence on a microscopic level. To put it frankly, he could hear them.

Toledo: [The voices of concealed weapons, I hear none coming from you.]

Child: [Ho hoh ho hoh! My goodness that is quite the wonderful reply! Are you the possessor of a Divine Protection that allows you to converse with weapons, or is this perhaps simply what Boss would call a character quirk!]

Toledo: [My love is pure. There are no impurities such as Divine Protections mixed in.]

Child: [I see, so you’re someone with a character quirk!]

While Divine Protections were useful traits to have, they had no role whatsoever in Toledo’s abilities. His sense of smell developed by polishing his own love, that in itself was a source of pride for Toledo.

Hearing Toledo’s response, as the boy tapped his zori on the floor with a pitter-patter,

Child: [As far as I can see the weapons lined up are all superb articles of great renown. But I don’t know, I can’t seem to find any katanas.]

Toledo: [Katanas?]

Child: [Yeah. My preferred weapon is the katana. I was searching for an ideal katana that would suit my hand if possible but I’m not having much luck happening across an article that fits!]

Toledo: [I see. Indeed, even in my collection, there are no satisfactory katanas included.]

At the words of the boy yearning for a katana, Toledo thought about his entire collection.

Even apart from the ones adorning the wall behind him, Toledo kept many weapons stored in the mansion on his territory. However, even among those, there were no famed katanas being kept.

Originating from the Kararagi City-States, the katana was a single-edged sword. ――And for those, there was a collector in the Empire that exceeded even Toledo. Taking absolutely every single famed katana into his possession, was an Imperial General First-Class.

Henceforth, if the boy intended on happening across a magnificent katana within the Empire, there was likely a thorny path that awaited him.

But then again――,

Toledo: [That is only if you are able to surpass the eye for beauty of this very Steel Appraiser!]

Child: [Steel Appraiser! That’s nice, what a lovely alias! By the way, has your eye for beauty deemed me to be a worthy opponent to fight?]

Toledo: [Unfortunately, these eyes are only able to ascertain the quality of weapons and the diligent efforts of craftsmen.]

He could tell that the strength of the boy, who had one eye closed, was preeminent from the fact that he had rushed to the highest floor of the fortress. He could not ascertain anything more than that fact.

The fact that not a single soldier of the fortress had come up yet, also substantiated the boy’s strength.

But, Toledo Spiegel did not possess the means to measure those who took up no weapons.

Toledo: [Hence, I shall show you. The history of a plethora of weapons, and their power.]

Child: [――. I was about to do something very rude. I deeply apologize.]

Toledo: [――――]

Child: [As expected of a talented man who has ascended to the rank of Imperial General. I was about to look down on you, who has arrived at becoming your current self by following your dignity and convictions, as being a minor character. This was an exceedingly arrogant oversight by the leading actor who drives the stage.]

While speaking, the boy lightly jumped as he stood with a hippity-hop, then bent his knees. There were no openings whatsoever in that casual action, and Toledo quietly continued to watch over the boy.

Then, in front of Toledo, the boy silently straightened his posture, and,

Child: [The soldiers of this fortress were also sufficient actors. I pay my respects to you and the subordinates you have trained. Let’s not finish this in the spaces between lines.]

Toledo: [――En Garde!]

The moment the boy narrowed his eyes, Toledo swung his treasured sword, releasing a sword flash that went beyond the office desk.

The slash was unleashed upon the boy like a wave, and Toledo leaned forward, taking a step to close the distance on his opponent. Invigorating the muscles on his slender arms, he danced in ecstasy as the silver flashes of the treasured sword piled up.

That act scorched the atmosphere of the room, proving the sharpness of a weapon that could cut even the world.

However――,

Child: [Seeing that definite strength, I suppose there’s nobody who would ever treat you like a minor character.]

After those words of praise grazed his eardrums, Toledo was struck in his medulla oblongata.

Just before his consciousness was severed, Toledo thought about the meaning of the words of the boy who had not suffered even a scratch from the tempest of his slashing attacks, and he gave up.

Toledo: [I do not understand anything other than weapons.]

Having even gained a wife through the connection of both of them being weapon collectors, that was Toledo’s response.

5

The fall of the Fortress of Iron and Blood, would likely become just as much of an upcoming topic within the Empire as the abandonment of the Gladiator Island Ginunhive.

Be that as it may, the recent times in Vollachia had also seen events such as the Fortress City of Guaral being occupied by rebels and the collapse of the Demon City of Chaosflame, so this event would just be another part of that sequence.

However, Subaru thought the fact that a single boy had taken down a fortress on the scale of one-thousand people made it a bit more crazy and unthinkable than the other topics.

Subaru: [As expected, Ceci sure is absurd. I’m glad I could get him as my ally.]

Tanza: [Looking at it objectively, I believe it is appropriate to evaluate Schwartz-sama as being equally absurd for seizing control of the Gladiator Island.]

Subaru: [Me? Nah, I certainly tried my best, but Ceci’s is a natural phenomenon, and mine is more like cultivation, right?]

Tanza: [Even if you say “right”, I do not really understand…]

As Subaru tilted his head and spoke those words, Tanza slightly frowned in confusion.

Putting the Authority of Return by Death to good use, Subaru had reached his ideal after a staggering amount of trial and error. He was somewhat different to Cecilus, who could get what he desired in a single try.

And, that self-awareness was something that even Tanza could not sympathize with.

Anyhow――,

Subaru: [He even fulfilled the no-killing condition that I requested; he did a magnificent job.]

As Subaru spoke and looked over the fortress, the soldiers who had been waiting in each part of the building were now totally defeated; all of them had lost consciousness and fainted, but their lives had not been taken.

It was something that Subaru had requested of Cecilus. That was not just limited to this Fortress of Iron and Blood, but it was a policy that had also been maintained for the other two strongholds they had visited after leaving the Gladiator Island.

Even if he was told that it was naive, he could not do something like taking the lives of others so easily.

Those were Subaru’s thoughts, but contrary to his expectations, Cecilus did not laugh at them.

Cecilus: [Isn’t it good to do it in the way that Boss wants it? Fortunately, the strength to accomplish that… in this case, the excellent pawn known as myself has it. If a strong person can easily kill a weak person, then choosing to not take their lives easily is the way of the Empire, right?]

Then, with such a tone he readily accepted the undertaking, and really did succeed in the conquering of the fortress.

Of course, Subaru himself had self-awareness that he had made an unreasonable request. Ignoring the value of life, it was natural that subduing the enemy without killing them was more difficult than simply taking their lives.

He had forced that difficulty, and it had been accomplished.

Subaru: [For now, everyone is helping to tie up the sleeping enemies. I understand their feelings of wanting to leap towards bread since they’re so hungry, but they need to endure for just a bit more.]

Tanza: [Yes, the Governor is giving directions. Shall we head up?]

Subaru: [Right… Ceci has been waving at us this whole time.]

Along with Tanza, he looked up at the upper stratum of the fortress, and there a small speck-like figure could be seen waving its hand. To that which was endlessly drawing attention to its presence in the upper part of his vision, Subaru waved back, and heaved a sigh.

From there, he proceeded to the office inside of the large fortress together with Tanza.

Then, as Cecilus welcomed Subaru as the latter arrived at the office――,

Cecilus: [――I thought this fortress would be just right for this, so I want to test Boss on one thing.]

Subaru: [――――]

Inside the room where the wall was adorned with many weapons, Cecilus was sitting his bum on top of the work desk, and as he trained his gaze on the arriving Subaru and Tanza, he smiled.

Next to Cecilus, a man with a characteristic beard stood bolt upright. Judging by his uniform furnished with a cloak, he understood that the man was a General from just a single glance.

Having understood that, a question surged within his mind. ――Why was that General free?

Cecilus: [This is Toledo Spiegel-san. The Steel Appraiser of the Imperial Second-Class Generals, he’s the person who commands the Imperial Soldiers of this fortress but he himself is also quite the swordsman.]

Toledo: [No need for such flattery. My fangs… no, my blade was no match for you.]

Cecilus: [Well that can’t be helped now can it? After all, I’m special!]

At the words of the man introduced as Toledo, Cecilus gave a broad smile and answered in his usual tone. Unable to bear that usual tone of his, Tanza tightly grit her teeth and,

Tanza: [Segmunt-sama, what kind of joke is this?]

Cecilus: [Nooo, it’s not like I’m messing around. I won’t deny that since I don’t really give off a serious vibe it may seem like I’m playing but I’m basically always serious.]

Tanza: [So then! Just what are you…]

Since that was not the answer she desired, Tanza unusually raised her voice.

As Tanza’s small body shook with her complaint, Subaru cut her off with his own words.

Subaru: [You said you want to test me? Can that not wait until everyone has eaten?]

Cecilus: [I also feel sorry. That’s coming from someone who never missed a meal even while everyone was cutting back on food and enduring. It’s just that I really wanted to clarify something while we’re here.]

Subaru: [Clarify something, what’s that?]

While feeling like that gaze staring at him was roasting his forehead, Subaru concealed how overwhelmed he felt and locked eyes with Cecilus.

What he was thinking, what he was starting, he confronted the monster without knowing either of those things.

At Subaru’s do-or-die gaze, Cecilus crossed his legs atop the desk, and rested his chin in his hand.

And then――,

Cecilus: [Boss’s specialness is whether he lets people live or kills them. ――I wanted to clarify whether or not you have the resolve for that.]

《To Be Continued》

Brotherhood of Pleiades – Part 4

Translated by: @garmadoncar

Proofread by: Cirdan Lunae

1

――Thus, the story returns to the beginning of Cecilus’s betrayal.

Subaru: [Why… Why did you betray me, Ceci!!?]

Cecilus: [Like I said it’s in order to test Boss… Ah, I guess I haven’t spoken of how I intend on testing you. That was an oversight on my part. There aren’t many times when I’m the one painting the picture after all!]

Slapping his knees in his cross-legged position, Cecilus declared while having a hearty laugh.

On the highest floor of the Fortress of Iron and Blood, sitting atop of the office desk, keeping the one whom he ought to have sent down by his side, the Steel Appraiser, Toledo Spiegel, Cecilus faced Subaru and Tanza directly.

Cecilus: [――You’ll steal from wolves, but not from dogs or rabbits. I don’t dislike that individual attitude of Boss’s, rather, I quite like it. That’s why I absolutely hope that you can continue to maintain that until the time you die, but…]

Subaru: […But?]

Cecilus: [Isn’t it a bit questionable to excessively avoid the deaths of wolves in order to actualize that?]

Closing a single eye, Cecilus made grand movements with his slender arms, and posed a question to Subaru while gesturing to the entire room―― No, to the entire fortress.

Cecilus: [Well now didn’t I capture the fortress on Boss’s orders? As discussed earlier Toledo-san over here is quite skilled and while the other soldiers were minor characters but upon evaluation I think they were worthy of being in roles that get killed off.]

Subaru: [But if you didn’t kill them then they’re not in roles that get killed off, right?]

Cecilus: [Yeah that’s right, I didn’t kill them. Since Boss had requested that I do it without killing.]

Subaru: [――――]

Next to Cecilus as he nodded, Toledo slightly narrowed his eyes, and stared in Subaru’s direction.

Even though his characteristic sharp beard suited him, it was clear that his eyes harbored anger towards himself for losing as well as a wholly different hue. ――Was that perhaps anger towards Subaru, who had given the order not to kill?

Much like other Imperial Soldiers, was this person the type that deeply desired to die in battle?

In that case, the resolve that Cecilus had asked of Subaru was――,

Subaru: [So then, is Ceci acting like this because I requested you to not kill anyone? To say that I excessively avoid casualties…]

Cecilus: [It’d be bad if you think I’m wrong. The way we see things and our sense of values are greatly unaligned. You agree with me don’t you, Tanza-san?]

Tanza: [――. I do not wish to answer.]

Cecilus: [Even while trying to avoid making a statement you have still formed an answer. Truly a tasteful remark.]

Cecilus was satisfied with Tanza’s answer, but Subaru’s lips contorted.

That he excessively avoided peoples’ deaths, was a vexing evaluation. In the first place, lives were a matter of being a one or zero, so there was no being excessive or anything of the sort. It was merely whether it was avoided, or not.

Cecilus: [So then my answer to the previous question is no. It’s not really like I’m doing this because you told me not to kill anyone.]

Subaru: […Huh?]

Cecilus: [I think there is merit to not killing. It’s dramatically more difficult than simply taking lives so it becomes more of a climax. People who have tasted disgrace and fallen once can use that frustration to polish their skills and stand in the way once more―― Such a development really gets me excited.]

Toledo: [Even if such is your hope, I do not have confidence that we can satisfy the standard you desire.]

Giving a sidelong glance, Toledo denied the outlook that Cecilus hoped for.

Cecilus pouted his lips at that, but it only enhanced the confusion within Subaru.

Subaru had thought that Cecilus had betrayed him because of the Imperial way, disliking the restriction of being unable to feel the sensation of killing others due to the restriction on taking lives, but he had said that was not the case.

Subaru: [So then, so then what the hell? Disliking the deaths of wolves, that’s…]

Cecilus: [Hahaha, don’t joke around saying you don’t know. ――In the world that Boss sees, are the wolves just the antagonists who block the way?]

Subaru: [――――]

Cecilus: [The way I see it, even Tanza-san who is earnestly glaring at me from next to Boss looks to be a lovely wolf.]

Being told so, Subaru looked at Tanza with a surprised expression on his face.

Without facing Subaru, all the while protecting Subaru with her outstretched arm, Tanza’s lovely side-profile stiffened. But, seeing her lightly bite her lip, Subaru realized.

Faster than Subaru, Tanza had grasped the meaning of the “Wolves” Cecilus had spoken of.

Subaru: […The wolves that Ceci is speaking of, does that mean everyone who accompanied us from the island?]

Cecilus: [Yes.]

Subaru: [But! What’s wrong with that? They’re our allies. What’s weird about avoiding doing things that would cause my allies to die? That’s not what I――]

Cecilus: [――In that case, why did you take everyone away from the island?]

A chilly blade was suddenly fastened to Subaru’s throat. ――No, no such thing was fastened there. But, to the extent that he felt like there was one fastened, it was a blade of words that had made his heart skip a beat.

Catching his breath, Subaru widened his eyes. Peering directly into those black eyes of Subaru’s with his single open blue eye, Cecilus asked.

Cecilus: [Boss’s objective is in the Imperial Capital. For that purpose we stopped at this fortress searching for food and water but it was me alone who captured the fortress. Though I appreciate that you had confidence in my strength and entrusted me with this role!]

Emphasizing the end of the sentence, he posed a question.

Cecilus: [The same plan won’t work in the Imperial Capital. If you don’t want to let any of your allies die then you shouldn’t have made them your allies in the first place. A pack of wolves can’t be tamed like dogs.]

Subaru: [That’s… hk.]

Tanza: [Segmunt-sama!]

As Subaru struggled to find words, Tanza sharply called out Cecilus’s name in his place.

Witnessing the glint in the young girl’s dark eyes, Cecilus opened his closed eye and stuck out his tongue, then,

Cecilus: [Any more than this will anger Tanza-san so allow me to promptly convey my demands. As Boss has said, none of the fortress’s soldiers have been killed. In other words, at the current point in time the fighting strength of the fortress has not fallen in the slightest. Ah, I guess it’s been reduced in terms of some weapons being destroyed though.]

Raising up the index fingers on both of his hands, Cecilus swayed from left to right as he spoke.

Given the flow of the conversation with how he had prefaced with “demands”, that which Cecilus had just pointed out caused an unpleasant sweat to run down Subaru’s back. While thinking “No way”, Subaru looked down at his feet―― No, at the Fortress of Iron and Blood.

At that reaction of Subaru’s, Cecilus smiled as if to say “You’ve hit the nail on the head”.

Then――,

Cecilus: [Please capture this fortress once without using my strength. If you can’t even accomplish that then you aren’t qualified to rise to the stage anymore. ――As the leading actor, I will forcefully advise you.]

2

After the boy and girl left the room in an irritated manner, Toledo looked at the boy who remained.

At the boy who was aimlessly swinging his legs while atop the desk―― no, at the very incarnation of the Imperial way that took the form of a boy.

Since there was a law of iron and blood that existed in the Empire that the strong would take all things into their hands, he looked at the being who, in accordance with that way, possessed the right to take all things into his hands.

In addition――,

Toledo: [Cecilus Segmunt.]

Cecilus: [Yes?]

As Toledo spoke the name of a person, the friendly boy gave a response.

The boy had a face as if to say that was a matter of course since his own name had been called out, and Toledo narrowed his eyes at him.

Toledo: [Are you saying that such is your name? However, the owner of that name is…]

Cecilus: [Ah, I’ve heard I’ve heard. Somehow it seems like there’s an extremely troublesome person who not only uses the same name as me but even uses the same nickname. But even if they have the same name and same nickname, the real deal doesn’t change. Please know that I am the definite Blue Lightning, Cecilus Segmunt.]

The boy gave a bright smile and boasted with an imposing air, and for the time being Toledo acknowledged him as Cecilus.

Toledo had never been acquainted with the owner of the same name, First of the Imperial Nine Divine Generals, Cecilus Segmunt. Though they had never met, his strength and audacity were things known to everyone in the Empire.

He had single handedly defeated over a thousand Imperial Soldiers and captured the Fortress of Iron and Blood.

Such a deed was an extraordinary act that Toledo thought was impossible for anyone except the real First.

However, the Blue Lightning was not supposed to be a little boy, but――,

Cecilus: [Even so, I do beg your pardon, Toledo-san. I went and decided this and that and everything all on my own.]

Toledo: [Following the way of the Empire, you have won the right to have things your way through your own strength. Above all, even if I were to try and deny you, I do not have the means to drive you away. Additionally…]

Cecilus: [――?]

Toledo: [I do not think ill of you, so I have no desire for you to voice words of apology.]

Cecilus: [Haha!]

That was a rather daring declaration, but Cecilus gave a lighthearted laugh and ignored it.

It was not as though he had fallen into desperation. Considering his exchange with Cecilus from just before, it was unlikely that he would raise his hand against Toledo here. But then again, nothing could be certain.

Toledo: [I shall say this now, but we have no intention of cutting corners. If given the chance now, this time we shall assuredly fulfill our desires alongside our weapons.]

Cecilus: [I don’t mind that. If you cut corners then it’ll spoil all the fun, and I won’t interfere even if it seems like Boss and the others are gonna be defeated.]

Toledo: […If weapons could speak, perhaps they would give off this kind of impression.]

As Cecilus continued to indifferently speak about his own methods, Toledo harbored such a thought.

Cecilus’s way of being, which had been forged with the straightforward goal of strength, was quite close to that of a weapon. The only difference would be that this weapon had rebelled against its owner by its own will.

On that point, he sympathized with the black-haired boy and the deergirl, but,

Toledo: [I have no intention of letting the black-haired Crown Prince get any further east than this fortress without doing anything.]

If his objective was the head of His Excellency the Emperor that resided in the Imperial Capital, Toledo could not let that pass by any means.

Even if that happened to be a second-chance brought about by the whim of the young Blue Lightning.

Indeed, beside Toledo as he steeled his resolve, Cecilus grinned with his chin resting in his hand, and,

Cecilus: [――Come now, sear it into my eyelids once more, Boss. You, who has accomplished things that nobody could possibly accomplish, just what kind of answer will you give to my whim?]

3

Hiain: [Like I said, I never thought we could rely on such a bastard!]

Hiain clutched his head with tears in his eyes, and shrieked out in a sorrowful voice.

The location was a plain that commanded a distant view of Glarasia, the City of Iron and Blood; the group commanded by Subaru had withdrawn from the Fortress of Iron and Blood, and were now awaiting the discussion of what they should do next.

The current agenda was a matter of course; the worst possible obstacle that had abruptly appeared before them.

Hiain: [Regardless of the other guys, the reason that bro didn’t persuade that damn brat ‘til the very end was ‘cuz ya also thought that same thing, ain’t that right!? Goddammit, my bad feeling was right on the mark!]

Weitz: [Shut yer fucking mouth, lizard bastard…! Don’t always wait to see yer opponent’s move before lodging a complaint…! If ya really thought that then it woulda been way better if ya said something to Schwartz from the start…!]

Hiain: [If I had gone and done somethin’ like that, what would we’ve done if that dangerous brat went and acted violently!?]

Subaru: [Be that as it may, you could call what’s happening right now the result of him actually acting violently.]

With bitter and sullen faces, learning the details of what had gone down in the fortress, everyone had some amount of negative emotions mixed into their expressions, and were confronting the issue.

Subaru: [Everyone, I really am sorry. If I’d been able to persuade Ceci, this sort of thing wouldn’t have…]

On the whim of Cecilus who had captured the fortress by himself, Subaru could not prevent the idea that the former had spoken of; lamenting that, Subaru bowed his head.

However, at Subaru’s apology, Weitz spoke out with a “Wait…”.

Weitz: [Ya don’t need to apologize… It’s much more of a serious crime that this lizard bastard thought something like this might happen, and still kept his trap shut…]

Hiain: [That’s right, I’m much more at… Don’t fuck around! All of this is that crazy brat’s fault!]

Tanza: [There is no doubt that it is exactly as Hiain-sama says, but the problem is the fact that nobody can bend the view of Segmunt-sama.]

Tanza nodded and affirmed the point Hiain made as he raised his voice, but even if she clarified the whereabouts of the problem which were clear even before she clarified it, nothing about their situation had changed.

Gustav: [From my point of view, as the official, I believe we currently have two options.]

Then, Gustav uttered words in a deep voice that sounded as if a large rock was speaking.

Gustav had his two lower arms folded, and with the index fingers of his two upper arms raised,

Gustav: [First, we disregard Segmunt’s demand, abandon the fortress and leave Glarasia, and aim for another fortress or settlement in the vicinity. That is to say, a change in our policy. This change would include a change to Schwartz’s policy of not seizing resources from towns and villages.]

Subaru: [That’s――]

Weitz: [Not happening… I ain’t got no intention of twisting Schwartz’s desires…!]

The first of the choices presented by Gustav; opposing that even more intensely than Subaru, was Weitz.

He, who at first had no reluctance to pillaging, truly held Subaru’s thoughts in high regard. Aside from him, both Idra and Hiain, though the latter was a little hesitant, appeared to share the same view.

As if he had anticipated that reaction, Gustav continued with “Well then, it shall be the other option”,

Gustav: [This one is simple. ――Accept Segmunt’s proposal, and capture the Fortress of Iron and Blood without relying on his strength.]

Idra: [I am not satisfied that we are doing exactly what Cecilus wants, but it seems there is no other choice.]

Since they rejected the first suggestion, they would naturally need to go with the second―― That was to say, they had no choice but to accept the absurd game that Cecilus had proposed.

No one held any objections to Idra as he summed it up. That was why, Subaru held some.

Subaru: [Wait! There can still be another option… I could go and try to persuade Ceci one more time or something…]

Gustav: [Schwartz, this may be harsh for you to hear, but… do you truly believe that Segmunt would be willing to lend an ear to your persuasion?]

Subaru: [Ugu… hk]

Being pierced where it hurt, Subaru’s cheeks stiffened up.

Indeed, that was a problem. ――Even if Subaru were to make use of the poison prepared in his mouth, and pile up attempts like he had done on the Gladiator Island, he could not picture being able to persuade Cecilus.

Or perhaps, if the restart point for Return by Death had not shifted from way earlier―― that was, from the precise moment that he had washed ashore on the Gladiator Island, then he could probably eliminate the cause for this explosion in advance.

Subaru: [Even so…]

No matter what route he made him an ally in, he did not feel like he could avoid the explosion of the bomb known as Cecilus.

That was unmistakably the biggest reason why Subaru had feared Cecilus on the highest floor of the fortress.

It was the dreadfulness of the “whims” that Cecilus had even spoken of himself.

Against an opponent that acted on whims, Subaru’s Return by Death could no longer be called invincible.

Subaru: [――――]

He did not know what activated the switch in the bomb known as Cecilus. So then, would it be better if he gave up on acquiring the bomb? Choosing such an option was impossible.

Heading to the Imperial Capital without Cecilus was an act akin to putting the ground dragon before the carriage.

There was no option other than to dismantle this bomb, and make it harmless.

Subaru: [But, like I said, right here and now…]

Weitz: [Schwartz, I get that you’re worried… But…]

Even if it was not the real Cecilus, Subaru could not take the plunge and attempt to tackle Cecilus’s challenge. Patting him on the shoulder, Weitz furrowed his brow with a grim face.

Subaru was dubious of his grim expression, but he immediately understood the reply.

――A sound rang out. His stomach, loudly growled.

Subaru: [――――]

Moreover, drawn in by that growl of Weitz’s stomach, the stomachs of the surrounding gladiators began to growl in quick succession. That large chorus of growling stomachs, was something that could not be helped.

Idra: [Until now, we’ve been straining ourselves on one meal per day. Even so, we’re out of rations. We’ve accumulated some water from the light drizzle that fell along the way, but we’re just barely enduring…]

Hiain: [Even so, that brat had the nerve to eat three whole meals a day… bro! I’m… I’m pissed off! The whole time, that bastard was just abusin’ his power!]

Subaru: [Weitz, Idra, Hiain…]

Hit with the growling stomachs and words of the trio, their frustrations pierced Subaru’s very soul.

It was not just them. Everyone whose stomachs were growling―― no, even all the gladiators whose stomachs were not growling, were they not all wearing expressions of those who were daring to take up the gauntlet?

Seeing all of them, Subaru’s own stomach hurt as if it was tightening――,

Tanza: [Please wait, everyone! Please do not lead Schwartz-sama astray.]

Undaunted by the heat of the strong and rowdy bunch, Tanza raised her high-pitched voice.

With both hands outstretched, she wedged herself between Subaru and Weitz and the others, and gazing over the men whose enthusiasm was gradually increasing, the side-profile of her lovely face contained a hue of tragic heroism.

Tanza: [If you intend on abiding by Schwartz-sama’s policy, then it is our duty to endeavor as to not rush Schwartz-sama’s――]

Indeed, it happened in the midst of her spinning kind words that were carefully considerate of Subaru.

Tanza: [――――]

Suddenly, Tanza’s words were interrupted, and even the gladiators simultaneously widened their eyes.

The reason was that a faint noise was mixed into Tanza’s do-or-die appeal―― Tanza’s stomach, wrapped in the obi of her kimono, made a small growl.

Promptly clutching her stomach, Tanza was flushed red from the neck up right away.

Tanza: [D-do not be mistaken, Schwartz-sama. Just now, that was…]

Tanza’s expression was clouded as she turned around, and with her face flushed red she desperately tried to deceive him.

But, no matter how admirably Tanza tried to hide it, she could not hide the cute sound of her stomach growling.

Listening to that, Subaru bit his lip――,

Subaru: [Sorry, everyone. ――I want you to let me contemplate my answer for just one more hour.]

With that, he requested more time for his futile do-or-die struggle.

4

Gustav: [Based on Segmunt’s personality, it is unlikely that he shall come to obstruct us as part of the forces of the fortress. He is an obstinate person who does not waver on the things he has decided.]

Subaru: [Mm, yeah. I agree.]

Gustav: […But, your expression is that of unwavering apprehension.]

As Gustav slightly frowned as he looked down upon him, Subaru pinched his own cheek.

An hour of weeping; while wasting that which he had requested in order to settle on a conclusion one second at a time, Subaru continued with painful reluctance as he meandered with hesitation and indecision.

Was there truly no other option? Searching for a means other than challenging the fortress, he endlessly meandered.

Gustav: [Do you regret recruiting Segmunt as an ally?]

Perceiving the innermost thoughts of Subaru’s turmoil, Gustav quietly posed a question.

Subaru: [There’s no way I could ever say that I don’t regret it… But, we didn’t have the choice not to make Ceci our companion. Those are my true thoughts.]

Gustav: [It is logical. Even if you are lost on how to pull his reins, Segmunt is absolutely indispensable.]

In order to demolish a large wall, one must borrow the power of a bomb. Even if there is the risk that it might explode while one is carrying it, it is necessary to accomplish the objective.

That was why there would be safety valves to reduce the risk of explosion as much as possible. Had Subaru been too negligent in that regard?

Gustav: [Schwartz, I must apologize to you for just one thing.]

Subaru: […Eh? Gustav-san needs to apologize to me?]

Suddenly spoken to in a quiet voice, Subaru’s reaction was a moment late.

Though partly due to Gustav suddenly severing the flow of the conversation, Subaru was more so surprised at the word “apologize”. In truth, Subaru had no idea what Gustav wanted to apologize to him for.

As Subaru widened his eyes, and Gustav inversely narrowed his own,

Gustav: [At the outset when we left the Gladiator Island, I told you something, as the official. That the fact that you are a juvenile shall not become an excuse for errors in your judgment.]

Subaru: [――. Yeah, you told me. In reality, I think that’s exactly how it is.]

That was still before they were scraping by for resources, but those words came from a situation where such an omen could be felt.

Being told that, Subaru was cautioned that it was necessary to pull himself together. Subaru had dragged the island’s gladiators and Gustav into this, and had taken them outside.

Their safety, food, and water, Subaru was responsible for guaranteeing all of that――.

Subaru: [That’s why, I feel sorry about these disappointing circumstances…]

Gustav: [――That was a lack of words on my part, in my capacity. If that was the reason for you carelessly pushing yourself, then that was an error of mine, as the official.]

As Subaru reflected like that, Gustav stopped him with his four hands, and deeply bowed his head.

As Gustav, who was close to being two and half meters tall, bowed his head, before the shrunken Subaru it appeared as if a mountain was collapsing. But, that was the amount of impact that could be felt.

After all, Gustav was expressing his apology to Subaru to the extent of bowing his head.

Subaru: [A lack of words…]

Gustav: [It seems that you have taken my words as me, in my capacity, pressing you for liability, but that was not my intention, as the official. What I wished to express back there, in my capacity, was an objection to the notion that you must undertake the responsibility for that group on your own.]

Subaru: [――. Sorry, I don’t really get it…]

Even though he rephrased it in a way that was easier to understand, Gustav’s view was still abstruse.

As Subaru frowned in response, Gustav folded his four arms, and continued a little more.

Gustav: [Regarding Segmunt’s reckless actions on this occasion, albeit there are some negative points, there is also one point that you ought to re-evaluate. That is, including myself in my capacity, this is a problem that everyone from the island is prepared to face.]

Subaru: [――――]

Gustav: [Schwartz, I understand that you are of a personality that despises the deaths of people to the utmost. From the fact that you placed a ban on pillaging, and that you even ordered the Fortress of Iron and Blood to be taken without killing… No.]

Thereupon, Gustav shook his head.

Gustav: [It was clear from the very beginning, when you threw yourself into Sparka countless times in order to win the hearts of all the island’s gladiators. Thereafter, you engaged me, the official, in Sparka over a game board, and compelled the guards to surrender without harming them. You have been thorough with your own desires, and have succeeded in them.]

Subaru: [Isn’t it natural that I’d get serious for my own selfishness?]

Gustav: [Affirmative. After all, as the official and in my capacity, I have continued to revise the Gladiator Island’s rules in my own way. Since I have given such an affirmation, there is something I must now say.]

Subaru: [――――]

Gustav: [Schwartz, all of the gladiators who left the island with you, they want to fight for your sake. If you say that your thoughts are your own selfishness, then that is their―― that is our selfishness, in our capacities.]

Subaru: [――Ah.]

Being directly told by Gustav that they wanted to become his power, Subaru was at a loss for words.

Gustav disclosed what he had felt in his heart this whole time until he had bowed before the much younger Subaru. And that was not just his own thoughts, but those of everybody else as well.

Gustav: [You stand in the position of the one commanding this group. However, that does not mean you must bear the burden for everything. In my capacity, myself and the others have the resolve to carry the burden alongside you. Besides…]

Saying that, Gustav, fangs protruding from his frightening face, contorted the corners of his mouth.

Subaru was a bit slow in realizing that it was Gustav’s smile.

Gustav: [If that was not so, then why do you think everybody would abide by your rules without deserting the group, to the extent that they would continue to endure their empty stomachs and parched throats?]

Subaru: […Am I an idiot? No, I am definitely an idiot.]

Gustav, with a gaze akin to an adult looking at a child, gave a wry smile.

Though his real age was older, Subaru was currently in a state that made it easier for him to be treated like a child, but even if he was in his original form at this time, there was no doubt he would nonetheless be treated like a child.

To that extent, what Gustav was saying was natural, obvious, and exceedingly logical.

Cecilus: [――In that case, why did you take everyone away from the island?]

Subaru: [I was even told so by Ceci…]

The question that Cecilus had thrown at him at the Fortress of Iron and Blood, its true meaning was finally conveyed to Subaru.

Ultimately, pushing that realization via hearsay demonstrated just how unkind Cecilus’s conduct was, but in this case, it was Subaru’s intuition that was far too poor.

It was vexing, but Cecilus had been the one who had actually evaluated Subaru’s allies.

Subaru trying to bear the burden of taking them with him meant that he was ignoring their thoughts to an extreme extent.

He thought that by keeping them away from danger, as to not let them be hurt, as to absolutely not let them die, he was protecting them.

――A pack of wolves cannot be tamed like dogs.

However, Cecilus had perceived that to not be the case, and Gustav also plainly stated it.

Subaru: [I thought that running and hiding from battle, and taking detours instead was the best option, but I guess that was wrong.]

In the first place, that strategy could only ever continue until they reached the Imperial Capital.

He did not know what kind of battle would unfold at the Imperial Capital, but there was no doubt it would be on a scale larger than anything up to this point. Strong beings such as the Nine Divine Generals would also be present.

It was not realistic for him to continue to protect them, and to keep everyone away from that danger.

He did not want to let them get hurt. He did not want to let them fight. In that case, why did he take them with him?

Subaru: [――――]

Gustav: [Schwartz, it is almost time.]

As Subaru closed his eyes, Gustav’s voice fell upon him from above.

Gustav had raised his bowed head. Then, he probably noticed the change in Subaru’s expression. Gustav’s voice had returned to its usual tone, a relief to Subaru.

Subaru: [Gustav-san.]

Gustav: [――――]

Subaru: [Gustav-san, from now on, you’ll be this team’s military advisor. The position of my right-hand man.]

Gustav: […Though, as far as I know in my capacity, Segmunt and Tanza are already cast for the roles of both of your arms.]

Subaru: [If that were true, then I guess I’m about to be giving my left arm a punch with my right arm.]

Smiling at the rare joke from Gustav, Subaru opened his eyes.

Looking up at Gustav, his gaze was met with a nod, and he headed back to everyone while accompanied by his military advisor.

Everyone: [――――]

――Subaru and Gustav returned, and everyone’s attention was turned to them.

Until then, everyone had been noisily exchanging some words, but their mouths all closed simultaneously. Even with the etiquette of a school morning assembly, it should have taken something more than that to get everyone to quiet down before the principal would speak.

He was sorry to all the school principals around the country, but here, everyone’s attention to Subaru’s actions were due to a topic of much greater interest than any discussion at a morning assembly.

Anyhow――,

Subaru: [First of all, there’s something I’d like to say to everyone.]

Everyone was listening to Subaru’s words: at the very front was Tanza, and around her was the trio of Hiain, Weitz, and Idra. There was also Old Man Null, Orson’s group, Rex, Milzac and the others, and Jawsrough was also mixed in, united with everyone.

Everyone’s faces and names were united. Feeling the heat of all those gazes, which were as if to say everyone’s hopes were being entrusted to him, Subaru opened his mouth.

And then, he spoke.

Subaru: [I’m a bit annoyed with the idea of always being called something like the group of gladiators, or the escapees from the Gladiator Island, so from here on out, this is what we’ll be calling ourselves. ――The Pleiades Battalion!]

5

――The Pleiades Battalion.

That was the name of this group of ruffians, of which Subaru was the leader.

Since they were a battalion, every member was required to be a warrior. Speaking with the reasoning of the Vollachian Empire, all members were wolves, and it was impossible for them to be dogs or rabbits, let alone pigs.

They were Subaru’s reliable comrades who would devote all of their power to actualizing and abiding by the code he had touted.

Idra: [Schwartz, everyone is in position.]

As Idra’s voice called out to him, Subaru nodded.

Looking up, spread out was the night sky filled with sporadically placed stars. Originally, it was standard practice to commence battle in the early morning, but that was in the case that the opponent was not already aware of their enemy’s presence.

This time, since Cecilus had devised the battle, the intentions of Subaru’s group to attack was obvious to the soldiers of the Fortress of Iron and Blood, so the time they chose would not matter. More importantly, their stomachs would be in a far worse state come the crack of dawn.

Subaru: [At this rate, we’d end up needing to kill the Gladiator Beasts and eat them…]

Idra: [I’ve heard they are awful. Apparently the taste is something akin to eating stinky sand. Old Man Null said that in the past, he ate one when he was pressed for food, and it caused him excessive suffering.]

He had heard stories of eating an entire warhorse to compensate for food shortages, but that would be terminal if it extended to eating Gladiator Beasts = Witchbeasts.

It was necessary for them to start fighting before that happened, and for them to finish fighting before that happened.

However――,

Subaru: […It’s said that the attacking side needs three times the strength of the defending side.]

In the past, he had a memory of discussing the same thing when planning an attack somewhere.

The difference in strength might be a little better than it was back then, but the Fortress of Iron and Blood was just under a thousand men strong. On the other hand, the Pleiades Battalion was six hundred men strong plus alpha. The plus alpha was the Gladiator Beasts, but it was unknown just how much they could be relied on due to their malnutrition.

At the very least, there was little hope that they would be able to make up for the two thousand and four hundred people they were lacking.

Tanza: [Schwartz-sama.]

Indeed, Tanza, who had been waiting by his side, called out Subaru’s name.

Of course, there were also strong individuals, like Tanza and Gustav, whose strength could not be simply counted as a single person’s, so it was not necessarily true that this side’s strength was completely unfavorable to that of the opponent.

However, since Cecilus, who was literally worth one thousand men, was not present, casualties would definitely emerge. Both on this side, and the opponent’s side.

In order to decrease those as much as possible――.

Subaru: [――With an offensive approach, I’ll struggle through it.]

In his mouth, ascertaining the package of poison hidden behind his molar with his tongue, Subaru took a breath.

On the Gladiator Island, Subaru had made use of Return by Death to avoid battle as much as possible. Even in this situation, it might have been able to prevent Cecilus’s betrayal somehow. It might have been able to change this entire outrageous situation somehow. He had racked his brain for such a course of action, but he revised it.

Victory, he decided that he would win together with everyone. ――Return by Death, would be used for that purpose.

Subaru: [We’ll win. Moreover, it’ll be by a landslide.]

When the battle began, the formations of the opponent, the tactics they would use, who would be defeated at what times, where the losses of life would occur, he would grasp it all.

In the same way as when he enlisted these six hundred people as his allies, he would save the lives of all of those six hundred people.

――No, not just six hundred people, if possible, the opposing thousand people as well.

――One thousand and six hundred people, save them all, Natsuki Subaru.

6

――When that shook the plain, the City of Iron and Blood, Glarasia, and the Fortress of Iron and Blood, Cecilus was above even the highest floor of the fortress, on the rooftop as he bathed in the night wind.

Cecilus: [Hm~ hm~ hmmm~, hm~ hm~ hm~ hmmm~]

Sitting on the edge of the night-time rooftop, he swung his zori-clad feet as he hummed a tune.

Would Schwartz’s group, who had withdrawn from the fortress, run away, or fight?

Personally, Cecilus would naturally want them to choose to fight, but since it was Schawrtz, the choice to run away was also quite possible. That was not because he was a coward, but because he was wise.

However, wisdom was not always something that deserved reverence.

Cecilus: [That’s especially the case in this Vollachian Empire. It can’t be helped that it’s quite a difficult place to live for people who maintain thinking and conduct that’s similar to Boss. But…]

It was precisely because they had survived through difficulty, that the paths of such beings became “dramatic”.

What would be the point in paying attention to those who were ordinary, of boundless mediocrity.

There existed nobody who was deeply invigorated by trying to find value in the fact that nothing happened.

That was why, Cecilus wanted Schwartz to fight.

He certainly possessed it. Schwartz possessed a distortion so intense that it could invigorate anyone.

For that to end without blooming, even if Schwartz might have been fine with it, Cecilus would not be. Such a thing would be an extreme tedium that would be very pitiful for the world.

Ergo――,

Cecilus: [Ohh! Did you finally feel inclined to turn up!]

Seeing the gladiators deploy along the field, Cecilus’s heart honestly jumped.

The initial choice had gone just as Cecilus had desired. How the following battle would go, and whether it would go as Cecilus hoped, even Cecilus himself did not know.

It was not as though he thought it would be good for many people to die. If they did not die, that would be fine.

The issue would be if that became a plot with far too little highs and lows. An unstimulating plot would be seized by sluggishness, and would not be able to keep attracting the eyes and interest of the audience.

Cecilus: [All of you observing from the heavens, please feast your eyes. Upon the souls of the actors who brighten the stage!]

Even if they were just minor roles, if they appeared on the stage, they would catch someone’s attention. Regardless if that moment was full of soul or of inertia, the moment they were seen, that was the entirety of the relationship between actor and audience.

For that reason, one must always make up a face and mind. In order to not have regrets when they were seen at any given moment, and affixed with a “label”.

Cecilus: [Hmm? Oh-oh, what’s that?]

Trying to evaluate the gladiators with his own pet theory, Cecilus suddenly frowned.

Far in the distance below him, there was an incomprehensible change in the movements of the gladiators on the plain. Of course, seeing that development occur next to the fortress, everyone of the Fortress of Iron and Blood, having been forewarned of the attack, responded.

That should have been reflected in the eyes of the soldiers of the fortress, and also in the eyes of their commander, the Steel Appraiser.

――The gladiators were standing in a circle. A small circle was surrounded by a larger circle, and that circle was surrounded by an even larger circle; such was the circular formation of the six hundred people, reflected in their eyes.

And then――,

Schwartz: [――WE, ARE THE STRONGEST!!]

Gladiators: [STRONGEST! STRONGEST!! STRONGEST――!!!]

The loud voices forming that unbelievable war cry shook the plain, the city, and the night sky of the fortress.

7

In a circular formation, raising his voice from its center, Subaru felt everyone’s spirit with his entire body.

Having completely lost their spirits after withdrawing, the roaring voices of the Pleiades Battalion were filled with a newfound competitive spirit, and they used their whole bodies to enhance what was being thrown at them.

Subaru: [――WE, ARE INVINCIBLE!!]

Pleiades: [INVINCIBLE! INVINCIBLE!! INVINCIBLE――!!!]

A big circle surrounding a circle, and an even bigger circle surrounding that one, the enormous circular formation of six hundred people gave off a fervor akin to a sports day or a rally.

They were the same in the sense that everyone was becoming one. ――Except that what awaited them here was a battle on which their lives were staked.

Subaru: [――OHHHHHHHHHHH INEVITABLE FAAAAAAAATE!!]

Pleiades: [BRING IT ON! BRING IT ON!! BRING IT ONNNNNNN――!!!]

To what he thought was the biggest, most absurd enemy, Subaru thrust forth his declaration of war.

That they should use a circular formation, that they should raise their voices, nobody objected when he had made those suggestions. The enemy was already aware of their presence, and of their intention to attack.

In that case, they would absolutely not lose in terms of morale. To powerfully draw out an unyielding spirit was the policy of a battalion.

Subaru: [――――]

Releasing their linked arms and shoulders, Subaru and the rest faced forward.

To the fore, the grand Fortress of Iron and Blood could be seen ahead of the plain; it appeared further away and mightier than it had been when they entrusted it to Cecilus alone, like an outrageously impregnable location.

But, their spirit to take up the gauntlet had not withered in the slightest. And, Subaru had already settled his heart.

Subaru: [I’ll redo this no matter how many times it takes.]

He had decided that he would make every effort with an offensive approach. Moreover, the resolve he was devoting was likely the same as when he began his second lap of the island, and he harbored an even stronger sense of duty.

Natsuki Subaru would conquer this battle together with his comrades.

Subaru: [HERE WE GO――!!]

For that purpose, Subaru and the rest ferociously broke out into a sprint.

Kicking up clouds of dust, they swooped down upon the fortress. With rumbling and tremors, the stampede of the men seemed to shake the vast lands, and as they gradually approached the fortress, the enemy came into sight.

The elite soldiers who had been lying in wait, charged with the duty of defending the Fortress of Iron and Blood. One step, another step, they approached, before the collision with those who stood on guard with expressions resolved for death.

Once they collided, the expenditure of life would begin from then onwards. He would pay attention to that as closely as possible―― as Subaru thought that, he suddenly saw a figure on the highest floor of the fortress.

――A figure that was waving its hands, as if cheering on Subaru and the others as they challenged the fortress.

Subaru: [CECILUS SEGMUNT, IS A GODDAMN IDIOT――!!]

Pleiades: [GODDAMN IDIOOOOOOOT――!!]

8

――That was a result born due to a coincidental alignment of various factors.

In order to materialize this, there truly was a miraculous overlap of requirements.

Firstly, all those present were unwavering and united in their feelings. Those united feelings were great and powerful, and so firm that they could not be swayed.

And then, there was the existence of Natsuki Subaru at their core, subconsciously invoking Cor Leonis. ――The final condition could never have been fulfilled if it were anybody else.

When the condition that was impossible for anybody else to actualize was fulfilled, a miracle was invoked.

Cecilus: [No way…]

And, laying eyes upon that miracle, Cecilus subconsciously muttered to himself.

Cecilus, who was generally unmoved by most things and had a habit of choosing events for their stylishness and stage presence, could surprisingly comprehend all things with just that, but this impression ran contrary to that.

This sight was so unexpected for Cecilus that he could not help but say that.

Cecilus: [Uwaa, the soldiers of the fortress are melting, they’re melting.]

Of course, Cecilus’s muttering was just a figure of speech, but it was a fact that they had met a development so overwhelming that the result of the collision appeared to be like that.

The fight between the group of gladiators commanded by Schwartz, and the elite soldiers of the Fortress of Iron and Blood, was completely one-sided.

The fight should have been an equal struggle, with the fortress side being a little more advantageous. Such was Cecilus’s estimation, and he thought that it would have been a sight to see how the presences of Subaru and Gustav would overturn the disadvantage he had speculated.

However, Cecilus’s estimation was betrayed in an even more nonsensical way.

――Schwartz’s group was clashing with the Imperial Soldiers head on, blowing them away one after the other.

An adult and a child, a Galewind Horse and a puppy, Cecilus and Schwartz; a difference in strength akin to those―― perhaps that last example was a bit inadequate, but a difference in strength to those extents was yielded between the two parties.

The mechanism behind that was clear to Cecilus’s eyes. ――The Flow Method.

The technique of utilizing the mana flowing within oneself for battle, it was a secret used by so-called martial arts masters to manipulate their bodies. For some reason, everyone had suddenly become able to utilize it.

Cecilus: [No no no as expected there’s absolutely no way that everyone has been using it, right? I mean if there were this many people who could use it then the Sparkas would have been much more impressive and spectacular!]

Cecilus was no fool about the influence that feelings had on the body, but this was just stupid. Such a stupidly absurd thing should have never even happened in the first place.

Cecilus: [Man, Boss is incredible. Or instead of incredible, perhaps I should say incredible.]

The chance to praise someone with feelings of dumbfoundment like this did not come to Cecilus very often.

Schwartz, who had allowed it to come to him, had magnificently lived up to Cecilus’s expectations. ――No, this had surpassed his expectations, surpassed his imagination; it was unexpected, extraordinary, and unbounded.

Cecilus: [I had thought it far too cowardly to fear the deaths of wolves and had intended to crush that notion beyond this point, but, man… To think that he would instead persist with the height of cowardice and overprotection to produce such a result, I must say bravo!!]

While the details of what had happened were unclear, Cecilus displayed that his insight was reliable enough to perceive who the origin was, and he roared in laughter with exceeding delight.

――He laughed about the fact that the Fortress of Iron and Blood was unlucky enough to fall twice in a single day.

9

When all was said and done, the result was an anticlimax. ――Subaru would never have thought such a thing.

He had not the slightest idea of what they had caused to happen.

Subaru: [Don’t tell me, Ceci didn’t do something for us, did he?]

Cecilus: [Ahahahaha! No way no way there’s absolutely no way. Didn’t I say? That “I won’t interfere”. That’s an expression of my stubborn intention to neither get in your way nor help you out.]

Subaru: [I figured. I understood and didn’t have any expectations.]

At Cecilus’s unashamed answer, Subaru shrugged his shoulders and responded.

From his perspective, there was probably no reason to be ashamed. Rather, having gotten his desired outcome, his confidence that he was the world’s leading actor had probably only deepened.

Cecilus: [That’s a little incorrect, Boss. This wasn’t my desired outcome, it exceeded all my expectations.]

Subaru: [Oh…]

Cecilus: [To think that even I couldn’t see this coming. I can’t believe that in the eleventh hour, Boss and everyone else achieved an awakening and rapidly rounded up all the soldiers of the fortress!]

Spreading his arms wide in excitement, Cecilus hopped up on his feet.

The rooftop of the Fortress of Iron and Blood, on top of the fortress that was already under the occupation of Subaru and the Pleiades Battalion, they faced each other. Behind the turned-around Cecilus, the large white moon was visible.

Cecilus: [Well then what about Boss? Perhaps this was also something you were able to foresee in the scope of your “true sight”?]

Subaru: [If I had such an outrageous power, I’d be able to live much more comfortably…]

Cecilus: [Oya that’s a strange thing to say Boss. It seems like Boss is enjoying comfort in plenty, no?]

Subaru: […Are you saying that since my movements are slow when compared to Ceci, it looks like I’m comfortable when I operate in eco-mode?]

Cecilus: [No no, you’ve got it all wrong. It’s nothing so complicated.]

When Subaru grimaced as if an outrageously false accusation had been made against him, Cecilus shook his head with a smile on his face.

Cecilus: [Boss, what do you think consumes the most energy in life?]

Subaru: [Mastering how to write Roman letters… Oh yeah, like the moment you fulfill a big objective?]

Cecilus: [This is my pet theory. ――It’s when things don’t go the way you hope them to.]

At Cecilus’s quiet answer, Subaru slightly stiffened his cheeks. Seeing that reaction of Subaru’s, Cecilus gave a smile, and,

Cecilus: [How is this outcome for Boss? Extremely disappointing?]

Subaru: [Don’t say such ill-natured things… It’s beyond ideal.]

Kicking the rooftop under his feet, Subaru responded so to that question.

――The first battle of the Pleiades Battalion had concluded with a perfect victory against the Fortress of Iron and Blood. There were zero casualties; it was a literal perfect victory.

And all of that was thanks to extraordinary power that had suddenly manifested itself on the plain.

Cecilus: [Both on the Gladiator Island, and here in the Fortress of Iron and Blood, Boss magnificently fulfilled the wishes that he wanted granted and the things that he wanted to do. If we follow my pet theory from earlier…]

Subaru: [My energy consumption is lackluster.]

Cecilus: [I won’t say it’s lackluster but your wishes are being granted and you are being rewarded with more than just obtaining your desired outcome. At the very least you can’t say that you’ve tasted futile efforts.]

While still feeling that they had yet to exit the realm of false accusations, Subaru thought that Cecilus’s claim was not something that had been made foolishly.

Not just on the Gladiator Island, but the majority of Subaru’s days in this other world had come to be rewarded in the end. But, it was just that therein laid the unseen expanse of countless “futile efforts” that Cecilus was unaware of.

Cecilus: [I’m not saying that you’ve simply dealt with things in eco-mode and are rejoicing all easy-peasy. I know that the path Boss walks is a thorny one and that the soles of your feet are all shredded up. On top of understanding that, I’m saying that since you’re being rewarded, you’re fully enjoying comfort.]

Subaru: [――. What exactly do you want to say, Ceci?]

Spending time with his long-winded speech, Cecilus explained his thoughts. Receiving those details, Subaru approached the true conclusion of the battle of the fortress in the moonlight.

The audience was merely the white moon. However, that was enough for Cecilus to dance.

What remained was―― whether or not Subaru was deemed worthy for the stage Cecilus rose to.

Subaru: [Were your desires granted? From here on out, what are you going to do with us?]

At Subaru’s question, Cecilus fell silent.

Supposing that Cecilus was planning on going into overtime, even if the Pleiades Battalion had obtained a profoundly mysterious power, it could not be said that they had much of a chance of winning.

But, he had faith that Cecilus would not do that, and not just because Gustav had evaluated him so.

Cecilus acted on his own whims, but was also contradictory in the sense that he was not the incarnation of egotistical selfishness.

Cecilus: [――To tell you the truth there is one thing I have misgivings about.]

After being silent for a while, Cecilus raised a single finger and spoke.

Cecilus: [Boss can see things that ordinary people are unable to. I’ve gone ahead and started calling it “true sight”, but…]

Subaru: [――Hk.]

Cecilus: [Ah you don’t need to affirm or deny it. Either way I already have an answer regarding that within myself. It may be selfish but I don’t require the words from Boss himself.]

As Cecilus plainly divulged his opinion, Subaru’s heart skipped a beat.

He had said it all so forthrightly, but for Subaru it was quite literally a matter of life and death.

This was nothing more than the situation ending without incident because Cecilus had not requested an answer from Subaru’s mouth.

Understanding that Subaru possessed a power that laid beyond the bounds of logic, Cecilus continued.

Cecilus: [Boss has the eye to see far into the distance. I won’t say that that in itself is troublesome, but… if you see too much then there’s a chance that things will get somewhat less interesting.]

Subaru: [See too much…?]

Cecilus: [There are certainly fine works where you can see the conclusion of the story coming, right? But I don’t want that for the stage I rise to. So I want you to make me a promise, Boss.]

Egotistically, Cecilus continued the conversation in a manner that centered on himself. The reason Subaru had not interjected was not because Cecilus was monstrously strong, but because his heart was drawn into what lay beyond those words.

Because the sound of him spinning words was beautiful, he would spit out words until one would become sick of hearing them.

Subaru: [A promise, of what exactly?]

Enduring the sensation of his eardrums desiring that voice even more, Subaru returned a question.

Perhaps because he did not expect an answer from Subaru, Cecilus slightly raised his eyebrows, and then just like always, closing a single eye,

Cecilus: [I’m very impressed by Boss’s resolve. I’d even say that coming this far while persisting with extreme cowardice regarding casualties is attractive. I think there’s no problem with getting so many people involved with your prideful way of being. ――But, please make me an exception.]

Subaru: [――――]

Cecilus: [Please, for just my life or death, don’t let it enter the vision of your “true sight”, Boss. My life, death, dancing, and brilliance, please let me handle absolutely all of that on my own.]

Cecilus placed a hand on his chest as he spoke so, and Subaru closed his eyes.

Subaru: […Is this because you think you won’t die?]

Cecilus: [That’s wrong. While I certainly do play the part of this world’s leading actor, if struck with a sword my head would fall off. If I drink poison my heart would truly stop beating.]

Cecilus boasted so in a manner so unchanged from his demeanor that a chill ran down Subaru’s spine.

To the extent that it made Subaru’s resolve seem cute, those were the values inside Cecilus that were formed by his way of life, honed to be ready for battle at all times. In truth, Subaru had witnessed him stick to those values, a scene where he accepted his own death.

He did not fear death. Yet, he loathed the idea of others sullying his life or death.

Subaru: [Alright, Ceci. Let’s make it a promise.]

Eventually, Subaru nodded in agreement to the promise proposed by Cecilus.

It was not an atmosphere in which he could decline, and the contents were not something he would decline to begin with. If Cecilus felt like it, he could run so fast that nobody would be able to catch him, so if his wishes were not granted he would probably run far into the distance, regardless of whether the Curse Rule was still active.

Subaru: [Ceci, get your pinky out.]

Cecilus: [My pinky? What are we doing?]

Subaru: [It’s a promise ritual from my hometown. If you break it you’ll be forced to swallow a thousand needles.]

Cecilus: [Heh, your hometown is sort of like Vollachia.]

Hearing Cecilus’s nonchalant impression, Subaru thought about how he hated the Vollachian Empire, and he held out his pinky, entwining it with Cecilus’s, who had done the same.

And then――,

Subaru: [About that promise just now, there’s just one more thing I have to tell you.]

Cecilus: [What is it?]

Waving their pinkies up and down, Subaru appended something on as they performed the promise ritual, to which Cecilus tilted his head.

Staring at Cecilus’s face from closeby, Subaru would clearly tell him, who held no malice.

Cecilus had also said some things that were quite unreasonable, so Subaru would also――,

Subaru: [――I’m a serial promise-breaker.]

Their joined fingers parted, and Cecilus greatly widened his eyes at the unthinkable statement Subaru had made right after making a promise, then he immediately burst out laughing.

Once more, an alliance was formed between Subaru and Cecilus―― and as a witness to that formation, the round white moon had kept watch over the dialogue under the moonlight.

10

Hiain: [Like I said! Strength surged up from the deep depths of my body like bwamm! Maybe this is the result of my trainin’ on the Gladiator Island?]

Idra: [Even if you say you were training, the only thing you ever did was run away…]

Hiain: [There’s also the possibility that my sense for victory and defeat was also trained!]

Weitz: [Why the fuck would yer sense of victory and defeat being trained make ya able to send yer opponents flying… Think before ya speak, lizard bastard…!]

Raising their voices in good spirits, the usual trio spoke of the fruits of the battle―― no, it was not just them who were roused by that subject.

Roused were the members of the Pleiades Battalion; the manifestation of the inexplicable power that had occurred during the previous day’s capture of the Fortress of Iron and Blood brought about excitement to everyone that had not subsided even after dawn had broken the night.

Gustav: [It is not as though I do not understand everyone’s excitement. In my capacity, I also felt the morale rise during that event.]

Subaru: [Gustav-san did!? You felt your spirits rising!?]

Gustav: [I suppose that I was also astonished that I, in my capacity, could feel my emotions become excited like that.]

Gripped by the excited state of his surroundings, Gustav spoke so, startling Subaru.

While that reaction of Subaru’s was upsetting, as Gustav clenched all four of his fists tightly,

Gustav: [In many cases, I had never attached importance on the presence or absence of armed might. But, to witness it actually produce such results, as the official, I have some reservations on my mind.]

Subaru: [Something like, with too much power, Gustav-san will also drown…?]

Gustav: [The fact that if you have such mighty power, the things desired by Schwartz shall be possible.]

In response to Subaru’s anxious question, Gustav shook his head.

Subaru could understand Gustav’s point. He had resolved himself to restart as many times as was necessary to eliminate the casualties he thought would emerge, but those all disappeared in the face of overwhelming power.

The strength of the Pleiades Battalion maintained absurdity, and with the complete capitulation of the Fortress of Iron and Blood, they were able to accomplish the great military achievement of replenishing their supplies without producing any victims.

However, to affirm that in the way that it was, would be tantamount to affirming the Imperial way.

Subaru: [Rather, I’m the one who has to make sure I don’t drown in the power.]

Gustav: […Schwartz?]

Subaru: [Nothing, I have hopes for Gustav-san’s performance as a military advisor from here on out. If Gustav-san hadn’t come with us, we would’ve fallen apart in the blink of an eye.]

Gustav: [――. I shall work diligently.]

As Subaru winked with hopes for him, Gustav folded his four arms and gave a quiet reply.

Ahead of his line of sight, he could see the beast carriages carrying the supplies they had collected from the fortress, and Cecilus straddling the back of a Galewind Horse that was pulling it.

Roughly, the only ones who would lend an ear to Cecilus’s opinions were Subaru, Gustav, and occasionally Tanza, so without Gustav, the battalion seriously would have crumbled.

And, just when he thought that,

Subaru: [Huh? Speaking of which, where is Tanza…]

Tanza: [――I am here.]

As Subaru looked all around, the voice of the person he was searching for struck his back. Causing his shoulders to jump was Tanza, who had been waiting patiently behind Subaru before he spun around.

With her regular blank expression, she gazed at Subaru.

Subaru: [Oh, ohh, I’m glad you’re here.]

Tanza: [Is that so? Though Schwartz-sama would not be especially troubled even if I was not present. After all, it seemed like I would have been a hindrance to your conversation with Segmunt-sama.]

Subaru: […No, that was because I thought that the talk with Ceci was definitely gonna get complicated.]

For the dialogue under the moon on the previous night, Subaru had ordered Tanza to not accompany him, and instead be on standby; thus she spoke sarcastically towards him.

From Tanza’s point of view, Subaru’s safety was just a necessary factor in order to reunite with Yorna.

Therefore, he understood that she felt apprehensive about being distanced from him.

Tanza: [That goes for dealing with the people of the fortress as well. Regardless of sparing them, is releasing them unconditionally not going too far?]

Subaru: [We confiscated their weapons, and prohibited them from chasing after us. When I told them to give us their weapons, Toledo-san went completely pale for some reason.]

Tanza: […That is enough.]

Suddenly averting her gaze, Tanza displayed discontent regarding Subaru’s answer.

At her reaction, Subaru wracked his brain trying to figure out how he could put her back in a good mood.

He had finally captured everyone from the Gladiator Island, Gustav, and even Cecilus, so even though the Pleiades Battalion was completed, there was no point if Tanza was not one of them.

Tanza: [In order to win over the members of the Unit, all of the gladiators, Governor Gustav, and Segmunt-sama, Schwartz-sama has gone through immense hardship, correct?]

Subaru: [Yeah, it’s been a lot tougher than it looks… Don’t tell me, is Tanza also going to act unreasonably towards me?]

Tanza: [Yes.]

Subaru: [Tanza’s revolt!?]

First was the Sparka with Gustav, which was followed by Cecilus’s betrayal, and now, Subaru widened his eyes at the forewarned revolt of Tanza.

As Subaru repeatedly opened and closed his mouth, Tanza spoke, her gaze still averted.

Tanza: […Please, say that you require my strength.]

Subaru: [――――]

Tanza: [If you want to put me in a good mood, please say that you require my strength.]

As Tanza put on airs and made that request, Subaru’s eyes widened to a greater extent than before.

Then, as he started to laugh,

Subaru: [――I need your strength, Tanza.]

Tanza: [In that case, I will accompany you.]

Answering so, Tanza faced Subaru, and as her lips slightly loosened, she began to smile.

Ascertaining that, “Tanza’s Revolt” came to a lovely ending, and Subaru inhaled a large breath.

And once again, in a manner that the comrades who were pushing forward in the same direction as he was could hear, he made an announcement.

Subaru: [――LET’S GO, PLEIADES BATTALION!]

Pleiades: [YEAHHHHHHHHHHH――!!!]

Their sights were set on the Imperial Capital of Lupugana, and what awaited them was likely the greatest battle of the Vollachian Empire.

And, there was an extraordinary and unprecedented group that would plunge into that battle as an unforeseen joker, the Pleiades Battalion―― This has been the secret tale, of how that group came to be.

《Fin》