Translated by: @garmadoncar
Proofread by: Cirdan Lunae
Links:
※Spoilers for Volume 35 (Arc 8 Phase 2). Please read after finishing the main volume.
1
――Around the same time that Emilia’s group was planning to smuggle themselves into the Vollachian Empire following Natsuki Subaru’s disappearance from the Pleiades Watchtower.
Anastasia: [Yep, looks quite nice. As expected, a handsome man’s a handsome man no matter what he wears, that’s for darn sure.]
Julius: [It is an honor to receive your praise.]
Seeing Julius’s sharp kimono-clad figure in front of her, Anastasia joined her hands before her chest, and she became convinced that her own selection had not been mistaken.
His Knight’s uniform also suited Julius, but with his looks, the shades of a kimono gave him a little more freedom to play around. The coloring and patterns of kimonos were much more flashy than the general clothing of the Kingdom of Lugunica, and if the wearer’s radiance did not lose out, then the overall sense of glamor would be multiplied.
She praised herself for drawing out the maximum quality from the talented individual known as Julius Juukulius.
Anastasia: [If I’m bein’ honest, it woulda been better if we coulda prepared a special order kimono to precisely fit Julius instead of a ready-made one, but we ain’t got the time, so that’s too bad.]
Julius: [There is no need to be so concerned, as this kimono fits my body well enough. At least, it poses no hindrance to my movement… I am surprised.]
Anastasia: [Hm?]
Julius: [This is my first time wearing this kind of waso-style clothing, but it has far more functionality than one would presume based on its exterior appearance. Just like with anything, there is so much one cannot know until it is experienced first-hand.]
Anastasia: [Fufu, the most important thing’s that you’re pleased with it. I ain’t really able to tell the difference, but it seems to have a surprisingly good reputation among people who move a lot while fightin’. One of the famous people in the Empire also supposedly likes waso.]
Anastasia nodded at Julius as he moved his arms to get a feel for the kimono he was wearing.
Waso was one part of the wafuu culture that was unique to the Kararagi City-States, and it was very familiar to Anastasia, who was born in Kararagi.
Recently, seldom had she wore a kimono, but that was just because she had been trying to assert the impression that as a Royal Selection Candidate, she wanted to familiarize herself with the customs of the Kingdom of Lugunica.
As a person from another country, not to mention a representative for a Trading Company of that other country, the handling of her impression was very important.
And, that was the same as how Julius was now wearing a kimono like this.
???: [Oh! Almost didn’t recognize ya, Julius! I guess a handsome man’s a handsome man no matter what he wears!]
Then, after he had finished changing, Ricardo examined his face inside the shop and gave a big hearty laugh with his mouth.
Julius widened his eyes at Ricardo’s compliment, and Anastasia placed her hand on her forehead.
At the reaction of the pair, Ricardo tilted his head with a “What?”.
???: [It is nothing, Ricardo. Those were just the exact same words of praise that Ana gave to Julius. It seems like Ana got embarrassed by that.]
Ricardo: [C’mon now, don’t’cha worry ‘bout such minor things! Me ‘n the young Miss’ve known each other since she was a tiny lass.]
???: [I also think that way. This is what makes a maiden’s heart so complicated.]
Anastasia: [Heyy, don’t say things like that on yer own. Jeez, since when did ya go ‘n become a spokesperson for my heart?]
Rebuking Ricardo and the one who took advantage of Anastasia’s silence to talk about this and that on their own, Anastasia hit the base of her neck.
The fox scarf that her hand touched was Echidna, who had been Anastasia’s partner for many years.
For a long time, Echidna’s existence had been hidden, even from Ricardo, but ever since the incident at the Watergate City, the circumstances were revealed and Echidna had been getting on well with Ricardo and the others.
Echidna: [Well, from my perspective it was just that I had no opportunities to converse, so it has been a one-sided fellowship for ten years now. On the other hand, I think the adaptability of Ricardo and the others ought to be commended.]
Ricardo: [I was real darn surprised ‘bout that, but as Echidna says, I wouldn’t find it too strange if the young Miss is still hidin’ a thing or two from us! Is that huge handbag gonna start speakin’ as well!?]
Anastasia: [It won’t. Well, I wouldn’t really mind if it did tho’…]
Responding so to that good relationship between Echidna and Ricardo, deep down it was something that relieved Anastasia.
Even though Ricardo spoke in that manner, secrets were things that could easily become causes for misfortune. Even after going on for so many years, she ought to think of herself as blessed.
The fact that Ricardo was a person of such character had saved Anastasia, both back then and now.
Anastasia: [I really hit the darn bullseye when I looked at Ricardo ‘n chose him as the first member of my camp.]
If life was a series of looking at things and choosing, then Anastasia’s first choice had been that.
And now after bouncing from place to place, Anastasia had brought him with her all the way to this position in such an important bout.
Then――,
Anastasia: [Well then, have ya steeled yerself, Julius?]
Julius: [Indeed. Wearing this kimono, I believe both my body and mind are firm. Let us proceed.]
Returning a reliable answer, Julius straightened his posture, and together with him, Echidna, and Ricardo, Anastasia proceeded outside of the store.
――And for the first time in a while, she set foot onto the soil of her birthplace, that of the Kararagi City-States.
2
In the midst of the ongoing Royal Selection of the Kingdom of Lugunica, Anastasia Hoshin broke the prohibition that she had intended to avoid doing for as long as possible, and made her return to the Kararagi City-States.
The reason that was a prohibited move, of course, was because there was concern that it would negatively influence her in the Royal Selection.
As the head of a large company in Kararagi, the Hoshin Trading Company, Anastasia had made use of that supporting base, but the scale of that influence served as a double-edged sword.
Of course, the people of the Kingdom were not favorable to influence from other countries getting stronger. That was a sensible fact harbored by all those belonging to the Kingdom, regardless if they were an expert or just an ordinary citizen.
Anastasia: [It’s a bit troublesome if ya just say “For some reason”. People’s choices ‘n decisions are somethin’ that can be swayed by their mood a whole lot more than they think. “For some reason I hate it”, “For some reason I don’t like it”… there ain’t a single good thing ‘bout thinkin’ like that.]
If it was concerning likes and dislikes that had reasons behind them, then it would be easy to take measures to compensate. However, it was hard to search for measures regarding fickle likes and dislikes that had no reasons; therefore, there was also the fear that they would be easily overlooked.
Hence, Anastasia had taken various measures to ensure that these “For some reason”s did not damage her.
Wearing clothes that were not waso, and returning to Kararagi as little as possible, all of it was in order to not grant any careless “For some reasons”s to the people who paid attention to Anastasia’s every move.
However――,
Julius: [Anastasia-sama, you have settled your resolve to return to the Kararagi City-States. In addition, that is not for your own sake, for the sake of Subaru and Emilia-sama, who are of a different camp.]
Anastasia: [――. I just wanna settle this debt as soon as possible. It woulda been fine if it’d been me doin’ the lendin’, but this time no matter how ya look at it I was on the borrowin’ end. It ain’t to my likin’.]
Julius: [――――]
Anastasia: [Jeez! What’s with those eyes!]
As Julius maintained silence at Anastasia’s reply, she reflexively slapped her knees and raised her eyebrows. But, seeing that reaction, Julius just said “Pardon me” and shook his head sideways.
Feeling somewhat avoided, Anastasia rested her chin in her hands in discontent.
――Currently, Anastasia’s group was using beast carriages to cross the border between the Kingdom of Luguncia and the Kararagi City-States, and they were heading for the Kararagian City of Ivada.
Anastasia: [In the Kararagi City-States, the mayors of the ten big cities got some real influential voices, but Ivada is one of them ten cities, and it’s the place where the Hoshin Trading Company is located.]
Julius: [In Anastasia-sama’s absence, who has been managing the company in Kararagi?]
Ricardo: [The young Miss communicates with letters, but most matters are handled by the vice-president, Chuden.]
???: [Uncle Chuden! He always gives Mimi snacks so I like him. He’s reeeally fat!]
???: [O-Onee-chan, you shouldn’t speak like that…!]
Hetaro chided Mimi, who had made such a comment while flapping her short legs with a pitter-patter.
Accompanying them on their journey was the sibling duo of Mimi and Hetaro, and they were quite energetic after having recuperated from the Watergate City incident. Their other younger brother, Tivey, had stayed behind at Pristella and was entrusted with the management of the Iron Fang and the Hoshin Trading Company’s activities within the Kingdom.
That also included looking after Julius’s sleeping younger brother, Joshua.
Julius: [Mimi, Hetaro, I am delighted that I am able to travel together with you once again.]
Mimi: [Oh? Then that’s reeeally good! But, Mimi’s real sorry that we don’t remember!]
Hetaro: [O-Onee-chan…!]
Julius: [No, I do not mind. Mimi, that attitude of yours is very comforting to me.]
Julius, who had entrusted the younger brother of the two with taking care of his own younger brother, now laughed at Mimi’s candid words.
Suffering harm due to the Authority of Gluttony, Julius’s Name had been forgotten by everyone around him. The memories she had made together with him that spanned longer than one year were no longer present, and for Anastasia, that was an extreme failure.
However, on the other hand, the relationship between them did not completely collapse with that, and she could believe so since Julius still stayed by her side through the Watergate City and the Pleiades Watchtower.
For that reason, even though it would not be able to fully compensate,
Anastasia: [In order to find Natsuki-kun and Rem, I hafta use all the cards available in my hand.]
Echidna: [Right. I will say this now, but that plan of Emilia-kun and the others to smuggle themselves in from Lugunica, it’s, you know?]
Anastasia: [Even if ya didn’t say, I’d understand. Emilia-san ain’t good at lyin’, so you’re sayin’ it ain’t suited to her?]
Echidna: [After all, she is far too honest.]
As Echidna was choosing her words, Anastasia understood what she was trying to say and nodded.
Emilia’s group was searching for the disappeared Subaru and Rem’s whereabouts from a different angle to Anastasia’s group.
She had heard that they were planning on crossing over to the Empire from the Commercial City, but it was a plan that went hand in hand with hardship.
Worst-case scenario, the identity of Emilia’s group would be revealed and they would be deported, and it was quite likely that they would need to give up on entering the Empire. By some chance, she may try to break through with sheer force and things would escalate to becoming an international problem, but the people around her would probably stop her before that could happen.
Anastasia: [But, in that case, it’d become real difficult for Emilia-san ‘n the others to search for Natsuki-kun. That’s why…]
Echidna: [Ana is acting as an alternative… You are quite engrossed in this.]
Anastasia: […What? Are ya tryna say that I’m mistaken on somethin’?]
Echidna: [No? It is simply, this is a first, so it also feels rather fresh for me.]
As Echidna tickled her nape while stirring about, Anastasia pouted her lips.
The “first” she had pointed out was probably referring to the motivations for Anastasia’s actions. Anastasia also had self-awareness that she was acting for a reason uncharacteristic of herself.
It was the exact same reason why Julius had laughed at her earlier.
Anastasia: [It ain’t a lie that there’s a debt involved.]
But, supposing that there had not been one, Anastasia would have needed to be more careful when deciding on this matter.
Because she was aware of that, Anastasia was unable to respond to Echidna and Julius’s somewhat lukewarm gazes with her usually sharp tongue.
3
The line of beast carriages arrived at the Third City of Kararagi, Ivada, as planned.
Here, the plan for Anastasia’s group had been to converge with the Hoshin Trading Company, having sent a letter in advance, and make arrangements to head towards the Vollachian Empire, and then cross the border.
However――,
Chuden: [――The timin’ was just awful, president. Traffic to ‘n from the Empire has just been completely restricted in terms of both people ‘n goods, even I’ve got my hands up with no clue as to what to do.]
Then, greeting Anastasia and the others as they converged in Ivada, Chuden raised both of his hands.
The giant, middle-aged man with a big belly, flabby chin, and dressed in a costume that made lavish use of cloth, got right into the heart of the main topic in his greeting for their first reunion in quite a long while.
The speed of that conversation was certainly that of a merchant―― It was probably a relic from before the Chuden Trading Company had had its name changed to the Hoshin Trading Company, and he had been the president.
Anastasia: [Prepare exactly what is wanted for the person who wants it. Even tho’ ya used to be that kinda person, have ya forgotten how to do business in the time ya were bloatin’ yerself ‘n gettin’ fat?]
Chuden: [Ya sure say some harsh things. Just who d’ya think drilled the fundamentals of business into ya? Even if I’ve handed over the seat of president, my thinkin’s still a long ways away from gettin’ rusty.]
Anastasia: [If that’s so, then what’s the meanin’ of this?]
Shaking his head, the saggy flesh of his cheeks and chin shook all together. Gazing over him, Anastasia stared at Chuden with an impatient feeling.
If that were true, he would have quickly made the preparations for crossing the border, and it would have been the point where she would have wanted Julius to reevaluate them with an “As expected of the Hoshin Trading Company”. The fact that there was a setback was not amusing to Anastasia in the slightest.
However, Chuden’s following words were even less desirable.
Chuden: [It seems that the current restriction wasn’t just from the Imperial side, but the City-States also agreed to it.]
Anastasia: [――The Kararagi side did as well? Something so rare pretty much never happens.]
Frowning at Chuden’s words, Anastasia pondered. Then, standing by Anastasia’s side, Julius called out to her saying “Anastasia-sama”,
Julius: [This is a difficult situation, but is this something rare? I often hear that the Empire bans traffic with the Kingdom and the City-States…]
Anastasia: [Demands from there are frequent. But, fundamentally it’s fixed that the Empire just asserts somethin’ on its own, and the City-States grumble about the heavy losses… But, this time, they agreed.]
Julius: […In other words?]
Anastasia: [Kararagi’s League of Cities is at work.]
Hearing Anastasia’s answer, the gravity of the matter was conveyed to Julius.
The Kararagi City-States were made up of multiple cities, and their League of Cities was a congress made up of the mayors of ten cities, an organization that possessed the right to decide on the management of the City-States.
The fact that they had placed a ban on traffic between Kararagi and Vollachia meant――,
Chuden: [If we ignore the official notice, even the Hoshin Trading Company will likely mercilessly have its business permit revoked. Even if not on a large scale, the Company has already shown its readiness to move, so ya ain’t gonna be able to talk your way outta it by sayin’ somethin’ like “I don’t know nothin’ ‘bout Vollachia”.]
Anastasia: [Ugh, to think that showin’ the true strength of the Hoshin Trading Company would backfire like this…]
As her fingers trembled, Anastasia was irritated by the abhorrent judgment of the League of Cities.
Julius: [So, there is nothing we can do?]
Anastasia: [――Don’t be sayin’ such stupid things. I ain’t gonna back down here.]
However, while making an unpleasant face, Anastasia roused her spirits upon hearing Julius’s question. That instant, she saw Julius’s lips loosen, and felt like she was either being tested or guided.
But, Anastasia switched over to the belief that this was proof of his trust.
Anastasia: [Vice-president, ya weren’t just waitin’ here to give us bad news, now were ya?]
Chuden: [Now, I wonder… It’s just, the dignitaries of the League of Cities are present in the next city over, Fusumi, so I’ve already gone ‘n completed preparations for ya to head over there.]
Anastasia: [Jeez! Stop sayin’ each ‘n every thing like you’re sellin’ me an expensive favor!]
Puffing her cheeks up at her business teacher Chuden’s way of speaking, Anastasia turned her back to him. At a glance, she could see that the next beast carriages and provisions for the journey had already been shrewdly prepared outside of the company.
Anastasia: [Hey, let’s get a move on! “Time is Money”! Why did the League of Cities release such a rare announcement? We ain’t gonna be able to enter the Empire if we don’t sort that out!]
Julius bowed to Anastasia, who forcefully clapped her hands, while Ricardo, Mimi, and Hetaro ran around boarding the beast carriages and getting ready.
Looking over their state, Anastasia wiped the sweat off her brow and muttered.
Anastasia: [Good grief, you’re makin’ me sweat… This’ll cost ya lots later, Emilia-san.]
So she declared.
《End》
How would Anastasia Camp feel if they knew about Halibel’s helping the Purge King in Wrath IF out of his own will.