Arc 7, Chapter 103 - 'Countdown of the Stars”

Arc 7, Chapter 103 - “Countdown of the Stars”

――As tremors shook the world, the sky split into white and red, and the clashing of lives brought forth an event of calamitous proportions, Rem had made a decision.

Rem: [If I’m going to make a move, it’s now or never.]

In the Imperial Capital, where a battle of unimaginable scale was likely taking place, Rem was still imprisoned in Berstetz’s mansion with her freedom greatly restricted.

Rem could not do anything effective, even as she felt the smell of burning getting stronger and stronger day by day. Feeling deeply ashamed of that, the choice of staying silently in place any longer was no longer acceptable to her.

In the end, Rem had not once come face to face with Berstetz, the lord of the mansion and the perpetrator behind her confinement, since their first chance meeting. For that reason, there was no way to examine what that old man, who had been concerned about the future of the Empire because of his own philosophy and deposing the then Emperor Abel, thought how all of this led to the great battle engulfing the entire Empire.

However, even supposing there had been an opportunity, he and Rem would probably not have understood each other.

Rem: [After all, Berstetz-san and I stand on entirely different sides.]

Even if it sounded cold, that was the conclusion Rem ultimately came up with.

Only the strong, or those with the leeway to do so, could sympathize with and take into account the circumstances of those in a different position. Since Rem was neither, she was forced to make a decision:

Who would she turn into an enemy, and who would she regard as an ally?

Without that, Rem bore no hostility towards Berstetz or Madelyn. That especially made Abel’s inability to properly explain things and Priscilla’s unreasonable requests much more difficult to deal with.

Therefore, what Rem would be trying to do from now on was not out of hostility or rebellious intent towards them, but nothing more than the result of having chosen where she would stand.

Rem: [――――]

With the battle for the Imperial Capital having begun, even though Berstetz’s mansion was surely constructed quite deep within the city, the ramifications of the fierce battle could still be felt there.

Naturally, the mansion was also placed on high alert, and being more or less a prisoner of war, Rem too was ordered to wait in the room provisioned for her so her freedom was even more restricted than usual.

However, from the perspective of the mansion’s security, Rem was nothing more than a hobbling girl anyway, and the security system in place was not set up such as to leave a guard standing in front of her room day and night.

――Taking advantage of this negligence in security, Rem had silently slipped out of the room.

Holding her breath, Rem crawled from the skylight of her room to the roof of the mansion.

Since she was careful not to make a sound, the security did not notice Rem’s secret maneuvers. It would be harsh to blame this on their negligence―― they probably would never have even thought that a girl with a cane would sneak out from a room in this kind of way.

That would be the case, if Rem really was a girl who could not walk freely without a cane.

Rem: [I expected to prepare for the worst, but...]

Of course, it was not a lie that Rem had complained of her handicap and used a cane up until now.

However, with her incomplete “memories” troubling those around her, she could not let her impaired leg stay as it was forever, and had been constantly practicing walking.

As her efforts bore fruit, and she began to be somewhat able to stand, it struck her. ――If she led them to believe she had a limp, it might come in handy.

In fact, she had not yet thought as far as to how exactly it would come in handy.

On the contrary, if her useless secret were discovered, she might inadvertently put everyone on alert. However, since her troubles actually proved useful, she could probably say that she had won the bet.

However, she could not let down her guard. Since she could only say that her winning the gamble paid off once these actions started leading to some kind of results.

If someone went out of their way to take a bet, it would become meaningless unless they win.

In the first place, Rem had been trying not to think about just whose influence made her take a bet like this.

In any case――,

Rem: [――If I can stay undetected until I get away,]

As she got on the roof, Rem’s goal to escape from the mansion, was not that.

It was a difficult choice to make, but besides Rem, Flop was also held captive in the mansion. There was no way he could have gotten out alone, and the mansion was surrounded by a high wall to begin with. Unlike the roof, climbing over it would have been difficult, so there appeared to be no point in even considering it.

Rem had escaped from her room with the intention of making contact with all the Crown Princes that had been gathered somewhere within this plot of land.

The black-haired Crown Prince had been hailed as the leader behind the rebellion, according to what she had heard. Despite the doubts about whether he was Abel’s legitimate child, he probably had one or two things in his mind about the current state of the Empire.

If Rem could make contact with them, a sliver of hope to get her out of the situation she had been put in might emerge.

Rem: [I need to ensure that myself and Flop-san, as well as Katya-san, are safe.]

Rem felt that she was in need of allies that could cooperate with each other.

She had been carefully making her way along the roof towards the edge, taking great care not to make a sound. Despite her effort to step softly, there was no guarantee that the guards would not find her and she could get away successfully.

In order to not let this opportunity go to waste, she was fully prepared to risk her life in the case she was spotted. This was also the reason she could not stand idly by.

That was――,

Rem: [――Hk.]

Suddenly, a strange occurrence popping up in the distant sky caused Rem to jump out of her skin.

From the edge of her vision, Rem gasped at the sight of the battle taking place across the walls of the Imperial City, as the looming sky changed into a peculiar spectacle.

Having been so distant from the event, Rem had no way of knowing the details, but at the very moment the Cloud Dragon Mezoreia had descended upon the top of the star-shaped walls protecting the Imperial City, The Spirit Eater Arakiya turned the clouds into flames, and Moguro Hagane rose up as the very rampart itself.

Without knowing the actual reality, Rem stiffened as she instinctively sensed those dangers. At the very same moment, she lost the strength to remain standing on the roof.

As an “Ah” escaped from Rem’s mouth, her body slid down the slope of the roof at the same time. She almost tumbled all the way down, but, instead, she quickly grabbed the edge of the roof with all of her strength.

Rem: [That, was close...]

If she had screamed or fallen down below, there would have been no room for excuses.

Barely hanging over the edge of the roof, Rem exhaled a sigh of relief. Slowly, she tried to get herself back on the roof and then――,

Rem: [――? This is...?]

With her objective still being far away, she was hanging there on the way back from the mishap. A door set up at the very end of the pavilion caught the eyes of Rem as she held onto the edge.

Even though Rem was allowed to relatively freely come and go within the mansion and had looked around everywhere, this was the first time she spotted a door to a detached building that was forbidden to enter. By going around the mansion along the roof, she had wandered onto a conventionally inaccessible section.

Rem: [A hidden door...? What in the world?]

As questions about her discovery arose within her mind, Rem became briefly caught in hesitation.

Their preliminary goal was to make contact with the faraway Crown Prince. This would have given them a clearer picture of the situation, as well as a better chance of finding a way out of it.

On the other hand, the unexpected hidden door may have ultimately turned out to be a mere liquor cellar. Was it really worth taking the risk to get in?

Rem: [――――]

Abel: [He is intentionally not procreating.]

Serena: [Exactly. In any case, I don’t think there is such a person as a Crown Prince. That’s why the story of an illegitimate child is dubious in the first place. But if mere dubiousness can spark such a civil war, our country splendidly lives up to its name.]

With a small twist of her cheeks, Serena’s smile was genuine and joyful.

Abel made no mention of her attitude nor of the speculation she made. Notably, Serena did not need Abel’s opinion either.

People like her are capable of confirming their own ideas without the affirmation from others.

In other words, it was not an affirmation that she sought from Abel――,

Serena: [For what purpose have you made up the existence of the Crown Prince? After our side is victorious in this battle, who will sit on the vacant throne, and what will you do with your Empire?]

――She asked if they were going to leave the future of the Vollachian Empire in the hands of the Crown Prince.

Abel: [――――]

At Serena’s quiet question, Abel softly closed one eye.

Some people might wonder if this was the right time to be asking and answering such questions, as the battle was just about to reach its climax. But as they fought, it would be too foolish not to think about what would happen after they won.

Naturally, since they were fighting with the intention of winning, they needed to plan for the postwar period as well.

Abel: [Why are you asking me?]

Serena: [I don’t mean that the Crown Prince is the... illegitimate son of His Excellency, but I believe that he is your truest representative to lead this great civil war. After the war, if you and the Crown Prince are going to join forces, isn’t it obvious who we should ask regarding the future of the Empire?]

Abel: [――Ha]

As Serena continued her thoughts, a breath escaped Abel’s mouth after hearing them.

Meanwhile, he himself was impressed by the effectiveness of the recognition blocking effect of the mask covering his face.

It was impressive how well it could conceal his identity and true feelings.

Serena: [What’s wrong? Did I say something wrong?]

Abel: [I am not laughing at you. Rather, I admire your insight. It is just that when the conclusions differ, the process is simply even more disconnected. Not unreasonable, mind you.]

Serena: [Mu...]

Serena’s lips curled in frustration at Abel’s comment.

But as stated, her insights were impressive. It was only natural to think that Abel’s goal was to win this rebellion and seize the Imperial throne of the Vollachian Empire.

He put a person calling themselves the Crown Prince in place who would seize control over the throne. If possible, the Emperor might even murder his puppet at some point and take the throne for himself.

But――,

Abel: [No doubt, I have no intention of handing over the throne. Your assessment is misguided.]

Serena: [So you’re saying all my conjectures are completely off?]

Abel: [Not all. You are right, I spread the word about the existence of the black-haired Crown Prince with the intention of finding him rampaging on the battlefield. But the gravity of the matter is different.]

Serena: [The gravity?]

Abel: [It is the gravity of raising him up to stage and keeping him in line. The latter is of little importance. ――In any case, that naiveté of his cannot condone the sacrifices of others.]

Serena twisted her head and was perplexed beyond comprehension.

However, Abel was not obligated to explain everything to her either. For the time being, he should have provided her the answers she wanted and resolved her post-war concerns.

In some cases, Serena could even end this rebellion by beheading Abel here and now and taking his head with her to the Crystal Palace.

Everything would be nipped in the bud, but to a certain extent, at the expense of Abel’s gratifying sacrifice.

Abel: [Cast aside hesitation and mercy, and make the most of your naiveté. That is what makes you truly special. ――Natsuki Subaru.]

Serena had called him the Crown Prince, and he was probably still ravaging the battlefields of the west.

Even Abel did not have a completely consistent image of the person in mind whose name he just uttered. Even in his memory, he was a hectic handful to deal with as an unvarnished crossdresser, and even with a child’s appearance.

Abel’s lips twisted at the vision of Subaru, his hectic scrambling right and left when he was thrown into a situation, openly displaying his naiveté and inexperience. With firm disgust.

――No, it was hatred, or perhaps a more appropriate way of putting it was rage.

Soldier: [――Who are you!?]

Abel, concealing his negative emotions behind the Oni mask, was about to respond to Serena’s question, when the tent suddenly flapped.

Several soldiers guarding the main camp drew their weapons and displayed a strong sense of caution. From the look of it, they were pointing their weapons at a slender figure who had appeared from outside the encampment.

The figure raised his empty hands and chuckled as he looked around at the faces of the soldiers pointing their weapons at him.

Slender Man: [Well, I wasn’t expecting to be so welcomed. I’m quite the popular guy, aren’t I?]

Soldier: [Don’t mess around! Where did you even come from?!]

Slender Man: [Guided by the stars... doesn’t that sound a little too poetic, though?]

The soldiers’ anger swelled when they thought that they were being teased by the ambiguous answer.

However, the man’s attitude did not change in response to their threatening demeanor. He knew very well that his attitude would not be swayed by this.

And that was why――,

Abel: [――Lower your weapons. That thing does not pose a threat.]

Soldier: [Bu, But...]

Abel: [Even if you were to give him a knife, he would still not be able to do anything. He is a clown whose only skill is to play with words.]

Slender Man: [Whaat~, that’s a nasty thing to say. I am hurt, you know?]

He called out to the cautious soldiers to lower their weapons. The gentle-looking man he had spared expressed his protest to Abel with a pout of his lips.

Then Serena, who was standing next to Abel, also looked at him suspiciously.

Serena: [Why are you here? Aren’t you the Stargazer――?]

Slender Man: [――Ubilk, if you would be so kind. Pleased to make your acquaintance, High Countess Dracroy. But then again...]

As the gentle-looking man―― Ubilk introduced himself, he smiled bewitchingly with an oddly refined face.

Ubilk, who was supposed to be at the Crystal Palace in the Imperial Capital, pompously, pompously, pompously declared the point of his words, to the maximum extent possible.

Ubilk: [――That’s a conversation for after the Great Disaster, if you happen to survive it, right?]