Translated by: @garmadoncar
Proofread by: Cirdan Lunae
Links:
1
In a place where the presences of many people crowded together could be felt, a precarious atmosphere began to tense over.
The heightened tingling sensation felt upon the skin reflected the feelings of the participants in the tense atmosphere.
Standing right in the center of that atmosphere, was a tall beastman wearing a black kimono.
The long arms of the beastman were bound by handcuffs, and he was surrounded by imposing men carrying swords. At a glance, the scene made it apparent that the beastman was not in the best situation.
However――,
Beastman: [Golly, ain’t it quite over-the-top ta have the full force of the League of Cities’ representatives all gathered ‘gainst me.]
Pierced by the stinging atmosphere and gazes, the beastman in question did not pay any mind to their sharpness.
If the beastman felt like it, neither the handcuffs nor the tense swordsmen would be an obstacle.
That was a fact understood not just by the person himself, but by everyone else present here.
That was because this beastman was the most famous being in the Kararagi City-States,
???: [――Halibel.]
Beastman: [Yep yep, that’d be me.]
His name having been called out, the beastman―― Halibel, relaxed his shoulders and smiled.
At Halibel’s response, the person who had called out his name―― one of the mayors, who filled the ten special parliamentary seats that had been prepared in the assembly hall, knitted his eyebrows. While making it apparent through the wrinkles on his brow that he thought Halibel’s attitude lacked seriousness,
One of the Mayors: [Actin’ so flippantly, would it be wrong to suppose that’cha got an excuse?]
Halibel: [An excuse… I wonder what’d be good ta say here?]
Another one of the Mayors: [Without hidin’ nothin’, speak of absolutely everythin’ ya got up yer sleeve. If ya don’t, ya ain’t gonna be able to convince us. ――After all, it was two thousand people.]
Halibel: [――――]
Yet another one of the Mayors: [The annihilation of a town inhabited by two thousand people, no matter how much of a pillar Halibel-han may be to the City-States, we ain’t gonna be able to ignore this level of damage.]
Taking turns, the mayors cast their voices towards Halibel, and the instant that the specific scale of damages was touched upon, the dry atmosphere of the assembly hall tensed up even more.
Two thousand people, that was the number of casualties from the most recent disaster. It was the kind of statistic that would only ever emerge in the case of a large famine, natural disaster, or civil war, but this event was none of those.
Those two thousand people were casualties that had been brought about by none other than the individual known as Halibel.
One of the Mayors: [D’ya remember what our request was, Halibel-han?]
Halibel: [Hmmm, what was it now, I wonder? Prolly ‘cuz of my age, recently, I’ve been forgettin’ a bunch of important things. Stuff like where I’d placed my kiseru before I went ta bed.]
One of the Mayors: [It was to investigate the unusual occurrence at Nanou, the town sittin’ ‘long the border with the Empire.]
Ignoring Halibel as he tilted his head and feigned ignorance with his answer, the conversation continued matter-of-factly. One of the mayors, with fingers as thick as hornworms, as he narrowed his droopy eyes,
One of the Mayors: [Investigatin’ the strange occurrence, that essentially means searchin’ for the truth ‘n solution to the problem at hand. Get it? Ya completely ignored that, ‘n instead entirely wiped out all two thousand inhabitants of the town.]
While maintaining a composed voice, there was an intense indignation housed within. The man was performing a strict interrogation, but he did not receive any reprimanding response from his surroundings.
It was customary for such a conference to get the briefing out of the way first, and then to proceed accordingly from there.
In the Kararagi City-States, the parliamentary system of mayor representatives from each city was a tradition dating back to the era of their founding father, Hoshin, but somewhere along the line, the system had been reduced to a mere formality.
Hoshin loved discussions, and it is said that he desired a parliamentary system in which differing opinions would clash and produce a conclusion that would not have come about from a lone individual. However, the current parliamentary system of mayors would head towards a predetermined conclusion from before the discussion had even begun, merely proceeding by tracing the form of a conference.
Therefore, a conclusion had already been prepared regarding the treatment of Halibel, regardless of any excuse he might have given.
One of the Mayors: [It’d be impossible to cover up such an outrageous story. We’re aware of Halibel-han’s contributions to the City-States. Even so――]
???: [――Can I have a quick word?]
Right when the discussion was about to reach its premeditated conclusion, a voice suddenly called out.
At the interference that had not been present at the prior briefing, the gazes of the mayors turned to the person who had interrupted. In the corner of the assembly hall, was the girl who had been permitted to listen in on this conference.
However, she had only been permitted to observe. Not to voice any opinions.
One of the Mayors: [Ya can’t be speakin’ out, Anastasia-han. I’ll say this now, but you’re only permitted to observe this conference ‘cause of Chuden-han’s influence. To impudently…]
Anastasia: [It ain’t impudent or nothin’ like that, Orgo-san, ya can’t be sayin’ things like that. Besides…]
Orgo: [――――]
Anastasia: [For us merchants, impudence is naturally the tool of our trade, much like how a sword would be for a swordsman.]
With an elegant smile, the girl gently sidestepped the words of the mayors who were over double her age. Then, stealing initiative from them, the girl stepped forward to the center of the assembly hall.
Naturally, the girl’s actions and appearance attracted attention. Stroking the white fox scarf wrapped around her neck, nobody stopped the kimono-clad girl as she walked in a relaxed manner. It was to the extent that even the presence of the longsword-wielding escort with his graceful facial features had disappeared from everybody’s perceptions for a moment.
Halibel: [Lil’ Ana, this ain’t no playground for children, ya know?]
Halibel calmly called out to the girl who had stepped forth. More so than his responses to the mayors, he used a tone of voice that was, to put it frankly, tender, harboring a clear warmth.
At Halibel’s words, the girl―― Anastasia closed one of her pale turquoise eyes, and ignored him.
Ignoring him, as Anastasia looked around at all of the mayors present in the assembly hall,
Anastasia: [Excuse the hurried greetings. I’m Anastasia Hoshin, representative of the Hoshin Company. Thanks to the kindness of Orgo-san over there, I’ve been allowed to sit in on this conference, but… I’ve become a lil’ unable to just shut up ‘n watch.]
Orgo: [What’re ya…]
Anastasia: [Look, Halibel’s a careless, impolite, ‘n hopeless loose-liver. Even so, he’s got strength ‘n popularitry, so I get why y’all mayors dislike his company. But――]
Pausing her words there, Anastasia opened her previously closed eye, and gazed at the mayors with both of her eyes. Within the gaze of her round irises, the expressions and shoulders of the mayors stiffened.
It was as if they had remembered the fact that, as the head of a company who still had youthfulness in her face, she was the representative of a large company that vied for the position of first or second within Kararagi.
As those mayors stood at the ready, Anastasia made a declaration without changing her expression.
Anastasia: [Ya can’t be misjudgin’ the reality of the situation. It’s the teachin’ of Hoshin to seize all the opportunities for business ‘n for victory. In order to solve this problem, don’t’cha think that ya gotta put yer displeasure with Halibel aside for a bit?]
Quietly and gently, Anastasia’s words dominated the assembly hall.
――No, to be precise, it was Anastasia’s overwhelming presence that dominated the assembly hall.
Next to Anastasia, with the attention having been taken off of himself, Halibel gave a comment,
Halibel: [Lil’ Ana, it hurts my feelin’s when ya talk ‘bout me like that.]
Then, while gnawing on the kiseru he had taken out, after having removed his handcuffs without anybody noticing, he grumbled so.
2
――The closure of the national border between the Kararagi City-States and the Vollachian Empire.
In a position of wanting to hasten to enter the Empire, this was certainly not a situation she found to be acceptable. In order to remove that issue, or perhaps to deal with it, Anastasia and Julius had wedged their way into the conference of the mayors.
As a result, while they had made a mess of the conference, they were able to get them to listen to what they had to say.
Julius: [Even so, a strange occurrence concerning the residents of Nanou, two thousand people… was it?]
Anastasia: [Accordin’ to what Halibel said, it ain’t got nothin’ to do with an epidemic or curse-arts. Either of those woulda been a huge problem, but it’s also a huge problem that it wasn’t either of ‘em.]
Seeing his lovely master place a finger over her lips, frowning in rumination, Julius narrowed his eyes. In terms of her demeanor from earlier at the assembly hall, Anastasia’s mannerisms entranced people.
As expected, having displayed her true talent at such a location, she was the woman whom Julius backed for the royal throne.
Anastasia: [How are ya, Julius? Tell me now, did ya happen to think of somethin’?]
Julius: [――. My apologies. Nothing that is for certain. Only…]
Anastasia: [Only?]
Julius: [In the past, I recall reading about a case that bore quite a resemblance.]
When asked for his opinion, Julius searched around his own memories for an answer.
Before Anastasia, deep with curiosity as she was, what Julius remembered was from within history books documenting the Demi-Human War, a small detail that was only slightly touched upon.
The greatest civil war in the Kingdom’s history, it was spoken of by many in a historical or gruesome sense, and though that one account essentially only amounted to being touched on,
Julius: [It is said that amidst the events of the civil war, the most unsightly battle was brought about through magic that controlled the dead.]
???: [The dead… I see. Certainly, that can be interpreted as coinciding with Halibel’s testimony.]
Responding to Julius’s report as the tone of his voice lowered was not Anastasia, but rather the Spirit around her neck covered in soft fur, Echidna.
The assent of an individual like her was reassuring, and Anastasia also nodded “That’s right” without objection.
Anastasia: [They had bad complexions ‘n their blood wasn’t flowin’… Halibel said somethin’ like “livin’ corpses” were walkin’ around, so I guess that’s exactly what it was. Although…]
Julius: [Two thousand people, that is a vast difference in scale.]
At Anastasia’s identification, Julius touched the white scar under his left eye in agreement.
Though the accounts in the history books were few, and the events of those days were not clear, Anastasia’s view was correct. In the battle that utilized the dead in the Demi-Human War, based on the way they were being controlled, the number would not have been so high.
Here, it was two thousand people. Even if there was a technique to control the remains of the dead, to actually implement that, and to go so far as to have them enact the form of a regular town, was devoid of sanity.
The competency, talent, and above all, the concept of the magic made Julius think so.
???: [Oh, didn’t know y’all were over here.]
Turning around towards that aloof voice, Julius slightly raised his eyebrows.
The one who had spoken was a tall wolfman of black fur, Halibel. He was the one held at speartip at the assembly hall earlier, but Julius could not avoid feeling tense at his calm demeanor.
After all, he was none other than the strongest shinobi of the Kararagi City-States―― said to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with the likes of Reinhard, he was one of the strongest warriors of the Four Great Countries.
However, contrary to the tension of Julius, Anastasia spoke “What?” while she turned a suspicious look to Halibel as he approached them,
Anastasia: [Why aren’t’cha in handcuffs ‘n bein’ accompanied by guards? It’s terrifyin’ for a large criminal to have been set free.]
Halibel: [Wasn’t it lil’ Ana who asked that I be released? Shouldn’t’cha be glad that I’ve been set free? C’mon now, why don’t I raise ya up in my arms like I used ta do back in the good ol’ days?]
Anastasia: [‘Cause I’m already a grown woman. We ain’t that close.]
As Halibel reached his hands out towards her, Anastasia bluntly slapped them down. Even towards that cold attitude, Halibel reacted cheerfully; witnessing the exchange between the two, Julius blinked his eyes.
He had heard that they had known each other for a long time. So he had heard, but they were far closer with each other than he had expected.
Halibel: [Hey, onii-san over there, must be tough bein’ lil’ Ana’s guard, ain’t it? After all, she’s a lass who seems ta have a curious soul, always scamperin’ about here ‘n there.]
Julius: [I consider that to be one of Anastasia-sama’s many charms. ――Halibel-dono, allow me to introduce myself once more. I am Julius Juukulius.]
Halibel: [Stuff like dono, it’s alright even if ya don’t use such a formal way of callin’ me. Ya can just call me Halibel.]
Julius: [That is…]
Halibel: [I don’t mind. Or rather, I’d actually be more comfortable that way. It’s quite tiresome ta always be treated like I’m super important or incredible, after all.]
As Halibel spoke to him with a carefree smile, Julius hesitantly nodded.
He had not expected to receive such a request from the most powerful warrior of the City-States, but therein, Julius felt something akin to the power of Anastasia’s fate.
The right person in the right place would naturally have their life intersect with such things.
Anyhow――,
Julius: [So then, what of the mayors?]
Halibel: [After chasin’ me ‘n lil’ Ana out, they’re in the midst of conversin’ without any nuisances. That said, ya don’t gotta worry. They ain’t so thickheaded that they wouldn’t be able ta recognize that persuasive power of what lil’ Ana said.]
Echidna: [――With that, it all depends on the extent to which they follow through on Ana’s request.]
As Echidna made that remark, having received the words of Halibel who was shrugging his shoulders, the shinobi in question reacted with an “Oh”, and jerking his face towards the fox scarf,
Halibel: [What’s this what’s this? Have ya finally given up on keepin’ yer mouth shut?]
Echidna: [――. From your reaction, were you perhaps already aware of my presence?]
Halibel: [Look, it’s my job ta be perceivin’ these kinda things. Since it didn’t particularly look like ya were doin’ anythin’ bad ta lil’ Ana, I just thought that maybe ya were a lil’ bit shy.]
As the kiseru in his mouth bobbed up and down, Halibel answered so, to which Echidna heaved a sigh.
It had been spoken like it was nothing special, but Echidna’s camouflage was not something that could have been easily perceived. It was the type of invisibility that neither Julius, Ricardo, nor Mimi and the others had been able to realize over many years.
Julius: [I understand that you have known Anastasia-sama for ten years now… nah, that you’ve known her for ten years, but what sort of time was that?] [1]
Halibel: [Oh, stories of the good ol’ days? Well, Ricardo’s kinda like a brother ta me, and he brought lil’ Ana… jeepers, lil’ Ana, please stop givin’ me that look.]
As Julius carefully selected his manner of verbal expression, Halibel tried to start speaking of some old reminiscences, but he was silenced by Anastasia’s gaze. Julius found this to be unfortunate at heart, and as Halibel whispered “Another time” to him,
Halibel: [Even so, it’s quite unusual for ya ta be this impatient. Is there someone ya care about that much in the Empire?]
Anastasia: [Mph… what’d’ya mean?]
Halibel: [Ain’t no use in playin’ dumb. Makin’ such a passionate speech at the assembly hall, suggestin’ that ya take me along ta go ta the Empire as emissaries, somethin’ like that ain’t for the sake of Kararagi, nor is it for yer own sake.]
Anastasia: [――――]
Halibel: [In a way that’s typical of lil’ Ana, ya rationalized it with this ‘n that, but yer real intention’s somethin’ else. But, since the feelin’ that ya didn’t wanna miss the business opportunity seemed so desperate, I thought that it might’ve been for somebody else’s sake. Am I right?]
Bending his tall body at the waist, Halibel asked this as he gazed into Anastasia’s face. With a sidelong glance to Anastasia as she remained silent, Julius stepped forward in order to defend her.
There was no strong reason to keep it a secret, but if it was something that Anastasia did not wish to disclose, Julius would stand up for her.
At Julius’s movement, Halibel lowered the ends of his eyebrows, wondering if he had gone too far.
But――,
Anastasia: [――Someone whom I’m indebted to might be in danger. That, ‘n I’m worried ‘bout my friend.]
Anastasia, hiding behind Julius’s back and not showing her face, spoke so to Halibel.
What sort of face Anastasia was making, that was something which Julius, who was protecting her with his back, did not know. Halibel, too, was likely unable to see her face, as she was pressing her forehead against Julius’s back.
The person whom Anastasia said she was indebted to, would have been Subaru. And, the person whom she called her friend would have been――,
Halibel: [――As ever, you’re quite skilled at gettin’ me motivated, what a naughty girl.]
Julius’s quiet conviction, and Halibel’s warmth-filled voice, occurred at the same time.
At that response, Julius understood that Halibel, much like himself, was also someone who had been charmed by Anastasia’s humanity.
???: [The conference has reached a conclusion. Return inside.]
Then, one of the guards from the assembly hall called out to Julius and the others.
The discussion between the mayors―― it was about the plan Anastasia had suggested in order to enter the Empire. The duty of secret messengers to offer relief to the Vollachian Empire from the Kararagi City-States.
If the situation was as they had predicted, and the disaster of the dead was also befalling the Empire, they would need support.
Anastasia: [Shall we head in, Julius, Halibel? ――I’ll be sure to work both of ya hard, after all.]
Saying that, and removing her forehead from Julius’s back, Anastasia stepped forth.
She was already back to being her usual self, so her previous statement was indistinguishable from a strategic move to inspire motivation within Halibel, and to have him accompany her.
Echidna: [She is not that clever of a girl, you know.]
Halibel: [After all, she’s got some surprisingly cute aspects ta her.]
At Julius’s speculation, Echidna and Halibel answered so one after the other――,
Anastasia: [Don’t be sayin’ any unnecessary things, hurry up ‘n get movin’! “Time is money!” As Hoshin says!]
Hastened by an angry Anastasia, Julius exchanged wry smiles with Halibel and Echidna as one of the people who surrounded her, and stepped forward.
――Not towards the assembly hall, but in order to proceed towards the Empire, he took a step forward.
《End》
Translation Note
[1] – Julius says the same thing twice here, but the latter half is him correcting himself to be less formal.