Editing Tytania:Volume 5 Chapter 8 (section)

== Chapter 8 – Towards ''Zamana Masafent'' ==
=== I ===
Balamy could not believe what he had done. His finger had pressed the trigger of the charged particle gun, firing directly at Ajman, the Clanner, a living Celestial being.

The flash of light that erupted did not strike Ajman’s body, but it struck the epaulette on the right shoulder of his cloak and sent it flying, causing the Clanner to twitch an eyebrow.

“Hoh, the son of my late brother?”

The Clanner shifted his gaze, still clutching his electromagnetic whip.

“You missed. Such things happen when one acts on impulse, driven by cheap emotions. Come to think of it, your father was much the same.”

“… What is that supposed to mean?”

“That is precisely why, despite him being the elder brother, he ended up submitting to me, the younger brother. And in the end, he met such a disgraceful death.”

Balamy’s entire being burnt with heat. His late father, Marquis Estrade, had met an accidental death on the stairs of their home, and much of the blame for that lay with Balamy. Though it felt like a distant, distant past, not even a year had passed. As acid was poured onto his wound, Balamy readjusted his grip on his gun.

“Stop, Balamy.”

The voice, thick with pain, came from Jouslain. Having lost his sight and with his face and throat stained crimson by blood, he had just managed to rise, grasping at the air with his left hand. He cautiously straightened his bent knees and stood with his feet slightly apart, straightening his spine. In his blindness, he finally managed to steady his posture.

“Duke Jouslain, are you unharmed!?”

Balamy’s voice trembled. As long as Clanner Ajman stood before him with a mask-like smirk, holding an electromagnetic whip, Balamy could not bring himself to look directly at Jouslain, who should have been at his side, nor could he run to support him.

Jouslain did not answer Balamy’s question. Instead, he spoke.

“Do not fall for his schemes. This man is a master at wounding his opponent’s heart. If you lose your composure, you will be playing right into his hands.”

“Oh, it seems that since losing your sight, you have grown a little more thoughtful, Duke Jouslain. Regrettably, you are talking in the wrong direction.”

Ignoring the Clanner’s provocation, Jouslain spoke to the younger young nobleman while enduring the intense pain in both his eyes.

“Balamy, you must leave this place.”

“Why!?” cried out Balamy once more who couldn’t help but scream. “Are you telling me that even at this late stage, you do not need my help? Am I really that unreliable!?”

“I need you to protect Princess Lydia.”

“…”

“There is no one else I can entrust this to. Can I not beg that much of you?”

“But your eyes can no longer see! If I am not by your side, how do you intend to defeat the Clanner!?”

Jouslain forced a smile.

“Do not worry. The Clanner will grant me my chance. If only to mock me and to deliver the finishing blow. That is the sort of man he is. A man not even worthy of either loyalty or rebellion.”

The laughter died away.

“Now, go! Return to the ''Austra'' at once.”

''“I refuse,”'' is what Balamy could have replied. There was no necessary reason for him to depart, leaving Jouslain behind alone. He could have simply remained aboard the ''Austra'' with Princess Lydia from the very beginning. However, Jouslain’s reprimand, which transcended mere logic, had strangely overwhelmed Balamy.

“Please, stay safe.”

Leaving behind words he could never have imagined uttering a year ago, Balamy rushed away. Ajman showed no interest in him at all, staring only at Jouslain. Jouslain felt with his entire being that he was standing upon the final stage.

“I thought you were a cruel man—until just a moment ago.”

“Do you have reason to revise your opinion?”

“I have finally understood. I truly loathe my own foolishness.”

“I have no intention of disputing your self-assessment.”

Without responding to the taunt, Jouslain continued:

“You are not even a cruel man. You were merely acting the part of one, using Ariabert, Zarlisch, and Idris.”

Even if the Clanner’s brow had twitched, it would likely not have been by even half a millimetre. Regardless, Jouslain could not have seen it.

“First, you continued to play the role of a profound and steadfast ruler. Once you grew tired of that, you began to act as a reformer seeking to bring change to the universe by rebelling against the history of Tytania. That acceleration went further than expected, and as a crisis loomed over Uraniborg, you killed Ariabert…”

For a brief moment, a piercing sense of regret infused Jouslain’s voice.

“You tore Idris’ arm from its socket, revealing a side of yourself as a cruel tyrant. But even that was an act.”

“Hmm, an intriguing opinion. However, if that is the case, I would very much like you to tell me. What, then, is the true identity of one who has played so many roles?”

“You have no true identity.”

It was an immediate answer, and an assertion.

“You are empty. Your intellect is brilliant, and your appearance is magnificent, but there is nothing inside. You have merely swapped masks and costumes to suit the situation.”

Ajman’s expression did not change. He was well aware that even if he did, Jouslain would not see it.

“You knew that you were nobody, that your interior was hollow. Neither Ariabert’s nobility, nor Zarlisch’s audacity, nor Idris’ ambition were within you.”

Ajman spoke in a sardonic voice.

“Did you exclude yourself?”

“I… I am much the same as you, so I simply chose not to say it aloud. I have merely behaved as though I were a high noble of Tytania, without ever being even aware of that fact.”

The Clanner tucked his whip under his arm and clapped his hands together five times, loudly.

“If you took sufficient time and organised the physical evidence, you might perhaps manage to write a paper worthy of passing. However, the question is whether you have that time. What do you intend to do from here?”

“Kill you.”

Ajman laughed aloud. It was a hollow mockery, as if to provide proof for Jouslain’s hypothesis.

“In your blinded state? A bold resolution, yet it would be shameful if it ended as nothing more than empty boasting.”

“You have become quite loquacious, Ajman. In this single day, I feel as though I have heard a year’s worth of your voice.”

“Hmm.”

“And every time you speak, it nauseates me.”

Ajman abruptly ceased the dialogue.

“Shall we bring this to an end now?”

He readjusted his grip on the whip in his right hand.

“Go ahead and shoot first, Duke Jouslain. If you hit, it shall be a cause for great celebration. If you miss, I shall grant you one final mercy. A death as painless as possible.”

Jouslain swallowed hard. Whether Ajman was a monster with many faces, a cruel murderer, or a despicable fraud, there was no doubt that he was a different breed of warrior than the late Zarlisch or Ariabert. In other words, he could defeat Jouslain in a fair fight. Jouslain had made his remark with that very fact in mind.

In Jouslain’s vision, which had been plunged into darkness, the angel of death had already begun its dance. Even if he tried to flee, there was no escape. If death was unavoidable, he would at least ensure he was not branded a coward.

Jouslain aimed his muzzle towards what he presumed to be the front.

''“Ariabert, Zarlisch, we shall meet again. Francia, please forgive me.”''

Five seconds later, a mocking voice echoed against the high ceiling.

“You missed, Duke Jouslain!”



In terms of sheer splendour, the palace of the Tytania Clanner estate could not rival the Imperial Palace of Vardana. Formally and superficially speaking. The residence of a subject could never surpass that of the sovereign.

Rather, it was said that the Clanners of Tytania had used the Vardana Imperial Palace as a cautionary tale, given that its immense scale and opulence had nearly brought the nation’s finances to the brink of ruin. Although the reasons were somewhat vague, there had never been an instance of a Clanner delighting in personal extravagance, so the policy had faced no heavy criticism.

Even so, to any ordinary person, the estate was undoubtedly a vast labyrinth. Francia found herself having to stop repeatedly to check her bearings.

“Lord Jouslain! Lord Jouslain!”

After calling out twice, Francia fell silent. The fact that Jouslain was deep within the Clanner estate must not be known by many.

Of course, Francia was unaware that Jouslain had lost his sight. Without her making a sound, he would have had no way of knowing she was approaching, even if he were in the very next room. It was a bitterly sharp irony.

Suddenly, Francia leapt aside. Dust motes danced wildly upon the floor where she had stood only a second before, and a circular area with a one-metre radius had changed colour.

“What a quick little brat.”

If voices could kill, the deadly venom contained within Theodora’s words would surely have struck Francia dead in a single blow.

Though Francia was nearly overwhelmed by Theodora’s manic obsession, she steeled her heart and began to run once more.




=== II ===
What Francia feared was not being killed by Theodora. It was the prospect of never seeing Jouslain again. To avoid that, she had no choice but to keep running, regardless of whatever insults Theodora hurled at her. There was nothing more foolish than to fight back and risk a mutual death.

As previously mentioned, the inner palace of the Clanner’s estate had not been constructed as a labyrinth. However, given its immense scale, the vast number of rooms, the winding corridors, and the doors that connected rooms directly to one another, it naturally took on the appearance of a maze. While running through it, she occasionally stumbled into rooms she had never even imagined existed.

That was exactly what happened to Francia.

“Francia! You little brat! This is no place for someone like you. To presume to enter the presence of His Highness!”

It was the voice of Countess Theodora.

In that brief, tense moment, several small coincidences had aligned to form a situation that could only be called “fate”.

Just as Theodora had said, the place Francia had burst into was the private chambers of Clanner Ajman. Upon realising this, Francia stood frozen, letting out a silent scream at the sight before her eyes. Jouslain, his face covered in blood, was facing off against the Clanner, who held a whip in his hand.

Ultimately, it was likely Ajman’s own arrogance that had brought about this final outcome.

Suddenly, Jouslain threw himself onto the floor in front of him. As the blows struck his chest and abdomen, his breath caught for a moment. Undeterred, Jouslain gripped the heat gun with both hands, pressed the button, and fired upwards. At the same time, he swept the muzzle from left to right, using the heat beam like a blade to slash sideways.

At a distance, the ultra-high-temperature blade soared over the heads of Francia and Theodora, slashing horizontally across the high wall near the ceiling for seven or eight metres; at close range, it passed from left to right just above the shoulders of Clanner Ajman.

Ajman’s severed head stared down at the body that remained standing, still clutching the whip; after appearing to hover in the air for a moment, it fell behind his back and rolled across the floor.

As Ajman’s head rolled along the ground, his face was contorted with an expression of pure shock and dismay. It was only upon losing his life that the eighth-generation Clanner of Tytania seemed to have regained a human-like expression.

Jouslain, who had instantaneously calculated the angle of fire to ensure Francia remained unharmed, scrambled to his feet by touch alone. Francia ran towards him in a frenzy.

A terrifying scream rang out. It erupted from the mouth of Countess Theodora. Without even looking back, Francia threw herself at the staggering Jouslain, supporting his weight.

“Lord Jouslain, it is I, Francia.”

“Why are you in a place like this!?”

“I am prepared for your reprimand.”

“You fool! You absolute fool!”

Though Lady Theodora condemned him relentlessly, Jouslain only wanted to know what he couldn’t see.

“Francia, what of Ajman?”

“He is dead.”

Jouslain let out a heavy breath.

“I see. So, he has died.”

“You fool! Did you not know? Did you not know!? Without even knowing what His Clanner Highness was doing…”

“What is happening?”

Sensing something profoundly strange in Lady Theodora’s words and actions, Jouslain turned his sightless eyes towards her.

“If His Clanner Highness’ heart stops, this palace will explode! That’s what’s going on. Even in his own death, His Clanner Highness will not allow a hateful culprit to escape. None of you will survive either.”

Jouslain did not know that. The fact that he did not know surely meant that neither Ariabert, Idris, nor Zarlisch knew. How, then, had Theodora managed to learn such an important secret?

A bitter sensation filled his mouth, tasting like blood.

She was likely told about this in Ajman’s bed. Only a woman could achieve something like that. It was exactly as Idris stated. Ajman was obsessed with the Clanner throne.

Jouslain questioned Theodora aloud.

“Well then, Countess, what do you intend to do?”

Though Jouslain could not see it, upon seeing Lady Theodora move her gun, Francia also swiftly raised her weapon.

“Go ahead and shoot if you wish for us to perish together.”

“I have no intention of dying with you. I will live. I will survive, and I will surely become the ruler of Tytania!”

Theodora began to run back in the direction from which she had come. She did not cast even a single glance at the remains of Ajman, whose head and torso had been eternally severed. Since the dead man held no further utility for her, she clearly had no concept of showing them respect. It was a display of magnificent selfishness and sheer tenacity.

“Francia, you must flee quickly as well.”

“Yes. Come, Lord Jouslain, please join me.”

“Don’t bother with me. The only reason Theodora was able to flee was because there was time to escape. Go, follow after that woman now.”

“Lord Jouslain.”

Francia’s smooth palm stroked her master’s bloodstained eyelid.

“Lord Jouslain, will you not consider living on with me?”

“…”

Francia’s white fingers continued to wipe away Jouslain’s blood, becoming the same crimson as her master. Jouslain, however, could not see the sight.

“If you say that you will not flee from here, Lord Jouslain, then I shall do the same.”

“Francia, I have neither the reason nor the right to live anymore.”

“If you will not consent to my plea, Lord Jouslain, then I, too, shall not consent to what you say. I believe that is what it means to be equals.”

Through what was called the eye of the heart, Jouslain perceived the resolute expression on Francia’s face.

“I understand, Francia. Let us flee. Will you take my hand?”

“Yes!”

Francia gripped the offered hand firmly. More than when Jouslain had felt it just a moment before, she felt their respective life forces and wills flowing into one another, merging as one.

They would run towards life.

Francia was fast enough to infuriate Lady Theodora, but as she was leading the sightless Jouslain by the hand, she could not exert her abilities to their full extent. Even so, she ran while desperately trying to recall the route out of the monster’s den.

Even if he had been able to see, Jouslain would not have wanted to behold the corpse of Clanner Ajman. Since Francia had informed him that he “had died”, his death was certain; and since Jouslain had planned, predicted, and fired the shot, he could already surmise the state of the body.

“Ariabert, I avenged you,” he muttered that ''cliché'' line to himself.

At that moment, he felt no such thing as the emptiness of revenge. Since he had missed the first shot, Jouslain was the one who truly deserved to have been killed. The Clanner had spoken of “granting a merciful death”, but of course, Jouslain had not believed him.

In truth, he had not accepted Francia’s words about “living together” either. They would, in all likelihood, die together. As long as Francia’s resolve remained unshakeable, he would let her have her way. That was what he thought as he endured the searing pain in both his eyes.




=== III ===
“This was the end of a man who desired to become a hero in an age where no hero was needed.”

Kneeling on one knee upon the floor, Doctor Lee closed the eyelids of the deceased with awkward movements. He closed the eyelids of Duke Idris Tytania.

“What will you tell his younger brother, who idolised his elder brother? He might descend into madness.”

“As long as he does not ask, there is no need for us to tell him.”

As Miranda and Doctor Lee were exchanging those words, shadows burst into the room. There were two of them. Everyone reflexively aimed their weapons, only to lower them immediately. Because one of them was Duke Jouslain. They didn’t know who the young, beautiful woman supporting him was. Francia was not a public figure and had never appeared before others.

“Duke Jouslain, what happened to your face?”

“Doctor, is that you? The Clanner got me good.”

“I see. I shall hear the details later, but what became of the Clanner?”

“I killed him. With my own hands.”

Doctor Lee let out a whistle. It was the sort of whistle that made one wonder which was the most clumsy between him and Hyulick.

“So you’ve done it, then. Well, let us tend to your wounds.”

“No, there is no time for that. This palace is about to explode. If we do not leave immediately, we shall end up dying alongside Ajman.”

“I see, so that was the origin of that space urban legend. Understood. Hey, everyone, withdraw immediately!”

Doctor Lee shouted towards the back, urging Jouslain and the others.

“Go on ahead. We will follow shortly. There are still some who have not returned.”

After watching the two depart, Doctor Lee turned his gaze elsewhere.

“Hey, Mahdi, be satisfied with whatever treasure you managed to cram into your rucksack. Give up on that sack you’re dragging across the floor.”

“What!? There are at least fifty platinum<ref name="ftn28">“White gold” (白金) is pronounced “platinum”.</ref> ingots in this bag. Tsk, if only Walenkov was still alive…”

“Then you would be dying alongside the platinum.”

As Miranda responded coldly, two more figures came running in. It was Hyulick and Seraphine.

“Did you two manage to make a profit as well?”

“Well, something like that.”

“Then let us leave this place at once. Hurry.”

And so, Hyulick and the others ended up passing by Jouslain and his group.

Jouslain continued to run, unable to see.

“What happened, Francia?”

Francia’s grip tightened.

“In the room just now, Duke Idris was collapsed on the floor. His right arm had been torn off… he was dead.”

“I see… So Ajman killed him.”

Jouslain turned his head, but it was of course impossible for him to see Idris in his current state. Idris likely would not have wanted Jouslain to behold the sight of his own death. ''It must be divine dispensation'', thought Jouslain.

“Idris… Perhaps you were the one who truly loved Tytania the most, exactly the way she was.”

Jouslain did not know if those were his true feelings, mere sentiment, or a hypocrisy used to deceive his own conscience.

It did not matter if he did not know.

“Let us go, Francia.”

“Yes.”

Jouslain and Francia set off running, arms entwined. Even so, it was at most a brisk pace, yet someone watched their forms with glittering eyes.

It was Countess Theodora.

She stood upon the gallery overlooking the great hall, her left hand resting on the handrail and her right gripping a percussion cap pistol. She should have fled immediately, but she could not bear to let Jouslain and Francia escape her sight, so she aimed the muzzle at them in silence. She intended for them to die without ever understanding what had happened.

With a thunderous roar, the pistol discharged. Her target was Jouslain’s head. She had, of course, taken careful aim, but the distance was too great. While Theodora was a marksman approaching the level of an expert, she had not yet reached the realm of the divine. It appeared as though a lock of Jouslain’s hair had flown away, but in truth, it was nothing more than a hole that had been punched into the wall.

Francia spun around and fired her heat gun without a moment’s hesitation. It missed once again, yet Theodora was forced to duck low to avoid the blast.

Suddenly, the world turned monochrome<ref name="ftn29">“Black and white” (白黒) is pronounced “monochro”.</ref>, and a thunderous roar battered her eardrums. The bomb, planted by the late Clanner, had detonated in the ceiling.

The chandelier, now a mass of crimson flames, fell from above with the howling sound of rushing wind.

That was the final sight Countess Theodora beheld in this dimension. She never lived to see the scene beneath the falling debris, which descended like a torrential rain, as Jouslain shielded Francia beneath his body.



“Good grief, it seems everyone has well and truly exhausted their good luck.”

Miranda gave a wry smile, her forehead and hands bleeding and several places in her field uniform torn. Aside from Walenkov, every one of the pirates who had infiltrated the Tytania Clanner Palace had managed to survive.

Amidst the chaos of flames, smoke, and alarms, with the living and the dead intermingled, they had actually made use of the panic to successfully escape the palace. Had they remained fixated on the platinum ingots, Mahdi alone might have been left behind.

Upon breaking into a deserted, ransacked restaurant, they searched for safe food and drink, eventually discovering light beer, sports drinks, ham, cheese, and biscuits. Whilst offering thanks to the patron saint of pirates, they hydrated their throats and filled their stomachs in silence for a while. Once they had caught their breath, a Tytania patrol car passed by on the street outside the shop. It was moving away while asserting safety and order to the citizens.

“I wonder who is issuing these orders?”

“Perhaps Count Elman. He probably wouldn’t handle command in a war, but he would manage the routine work without much issue.”

Seraphine turned on the television in the shop. An emergency special programme had just begun. A middle-aged female presenter appeared, seated alongside an elderly gentleman with a bright, intelligent look in his eyes.

''“… Well, what will become of space and human society moving forward? I would like to ask political commentator Mr&nbsp;J.&nbsp;Caposhbar.”''

''“Please, call me a general social scientist<ref name="ftn30">''“Social scientist” (総合社会科学者) is pronounced “social scientist”.''</ref>. And I do hold a PhD.”''

''“I apologise. Then, Dr&nbsp;Caposhbar, what will become of space, and what should we do?”''

''“Since the single greatest superpower has vanished, it is only natural that anxiety and confusion should arise. However, this situation will not last forever.”''

''“It would be a problem if this continued for long. I cannot even begin to imagine the extent of the impact it will have.”''

''“As citizens, we have no choice but to remain calm, not panic, and carry on with our daily lives. We hope that Tytania will appoint a successor as soon as possible and work to resolve this confusion.”''

''“It appears that several directives have been issued in the name of Count Elman, but are these merely provisional?”''

''“That is likely the case, but there is still very little information available. I cannot say anything for certain.”''




=== IV ===
Amidst the immense chaos both inside and outside Uraniborg, Viscount Balamy Tytania piloted a single-seat reconnaissance plane<ref name="ftn31">“Single-seat reconnaissance plane” (単座式偵察機) is pronounced “mini cyprus”.</ref> back to the space battleship ''Austra''. On the way, he had faced death no fewer than half a dozen times. Once he was finally brought into the battleship’s hangar, he made his way towards the bridge.

“Bal, Bal, are you alright!?”

Voices of joy made the very air dance, and a small figure leapt towards Balamy like a bullet. Balamy smiled as he caught Princess Lydia in his arms.

“I am deeply sorry for causing you such worry. I have managed to somehow return.”

“Bal, what about Duke Jouslain and Francia?”

It was a question he had braced himself for, one he had resigned himself to. Even so, he could not dispel the dark clouds swirling within his heart.

“I am so sorry. I cannot confirm whether they are alive or dead. I have returned alone, in complete shame. I am prepared for your reprimand.”

Princess Lydia pulled herself away from Balamy just enough to look up at her knight. Her clear eyes held no trace of reproach.

“I was wondering what I would do if none of the three of you came back. It is not your fault at all, Bal. You did well to return. I am glad.”

Though she said she was happy, her small eyes overflowed with tears.

“You needn’t worry about Duke Jouslain or Francia. There is no way those two could die.”

“Princess…”

“Because, it’s true, isn’t it? Those two are much more reliable than you, Bal.”

Princess Lydia attempted to smile but failed, wiping her eyes with the back of her hand.

“When I am much older, before I become Queen, I will go and search for them. If they are alive, I will surely find them. The universe is such a small place, after all.”

The coexistence of her childish tears and such grand words was entirely characteristic of the Princess. Balamy was struck by a sincerity so pure it astonished even him, and he offered his handkerchief to the Princess’ small hand.

“What about you, Bal?”

“I cannot leave the fleet in its current state. I shall contact Uraniborg, organise the assessment of our losses, and once everything is settled, I will disband them. After that, I shall leave matters in the hands of Count Elman and the other surviving nobles.”

“I see. But what do you intend to do after that?”

“Naturally, I shall escort you back to your motherland<ref name="ftn32">Here, “motherland” (母国) is pronounced “Elbing”.</ref>, Princess. After that, most wretchedly, I shall have no place to return to. Would you grant me permission to remain in Elbing for a while?”

“Very well, I permit it.”

The Princess wiped away her tears, blew her nose vigorously, and then folded the handkerchief with an embarrassed air.

“When the time comes, I wish to accompany you on your journey to search for Duke Jouslain and Lady Francia. Would that be acceptable?”

“I permit that too!”

Princess Lydia’s voice, so full of vitality, brightened Balamy’s heart. He felt as though he might be able to walk the long, dark path ahead of him with his head held high.

As if suddenly remembering something, Princess Lydia asked a question.

“By the way, what became of the Clanner and Duke Idris?”

“Both are dead.”

In truth, he had not actually witnessed their deaths. However, just before leaving Uraniborg, he had heard rumours flying faster than light. There was no doubt that the Clanner’s death was by Jouslain’s hand, and Balamy felt a sense of congratulation that he had finally avenged Ariabert. He had achieved something remarkable considering that he had lost his sight.

As for Idris’ death, there was nothing to do but let his imagination run wild, but he had no choice but to assume it was at the hands of the Clanner. Depending on how the situation had shifted, it might even have been Balamy himself who ended up killing Idris. He felt a complex mix of emotions, but when he recalled the gruesome sight of Idris with his arm torn away, sympathy ultimately emerged as the final victor.

Captain Edna Fredericks appeared before the Princess and Balamy to celebrate their safety. Balamy provided a brief explanation of the situation.

“So, Captain, what will you do now?”

“Unlike Her Highness and Your Lordship Grace Balamy, I have no one left to search for. I possess no skills beyond those of a soldier, so even if Tytania’s fleet is downsized, I intend to remain.”

“Before that, could you escort the Princess and me to the Kingdom of Elbing?”

“Of course.”

Princess Lydia spoke up unexpectedly:

“Captain Fredericks!”

“Yes?”

“Thank you for everything.”

As Princess Lydia gave a small bow, Balamy followed suit with a Tytania-style salute.

“You are too kind.”

For the first time, tears welled in Captain Edna Fredericks’ eyes.



Just before the space battleship ''Austra'' departed for the Kingdom of Elbing, a notification was broadcast from Uraniborg to the entire fleet.

“His Clanner Highness Ajman has passed away. Fighting in the name of the Clanner no longer holds meaning. Both forces are to cease hostilities immediately and remain on standby until further orders. I repeat, His Clanner Highness Ajman has…”

Both friend and foe were left in a state of stunned disbelief, powerless to react, yet one after another, they ceased fire in accordance with the announcement. Thus, the “Uraniborg Incident” was formally brought to a close.

On planet Ementhal, Kafir, Tyron, and Bargash, as well as on distant frontier planets and interstellar liners, this transmission sent shockwaves through the populace, striking tens of billions of voices and the many billions of ears that followed.

“Did they say the Clanner has died?”

“That’s what they said, indeed.”

“How can this be! Then what will become of the future of Tytania?”

“Someone else will become the next Clanner. It is not as if the choice lies with you or me, so there is no use worrying about it.”

“I suppose so… At any rate, the fighting seems to be over, and it looks as though we survived.”

“Let’s go home. We shall eat and sleep, and when we wake tomorrow morning, our usual lives will have returned. Can you stand?”

“If you will lead the way.”

While such gentle and sweet conversation was being exchanged, there also existed, naturally, arguments so unpleasant that even a malicious cat and a brutish dog would turn their faces away.

“Don’t be ridiculous! There is still a whole week left until the payment deadline. Re-read the contract. Or are you unable to read?”

“I shall return your words to you. Isn’t it written that in the event of an unavoidable emergency, the deadline may be moved forward by mutual agreement? We are currently in such a situation.”

“As if anyone would agree to that! If you want your money, come and see me in court!”

Vulgar disputes were breaking out everywhere, but among the crew of the second-hand spacecraft ''Honest Old Man Junior'', the only sounds were cries of sorrow.

“Oh, my beloved platinum ingots… please forgive me for leaving you behind.”

“I’ll tell you now, Mahdi, no matter how much you love those ingots, you have no legal right to possess them anywhere in human society. Just make do with your rucksack’s share. Now that I look at you, isn’t a wad of cash practically spilling out of your pocket?”

Alan Mahdi was perhaps the only person in the universe who had gained direct financial profit from the Clanner’s death. However, he could not simply rejoice in his one-in-tens-of-billions stroke of luck. He was suffering the pangs of a conscience that had left behind platinum ingots that seemed to scream, “Take us with you!”

While he allowed himself to lament to his heart’s content, the others remained gathered around the coffee table.

“What became of Ajman’s wife and children?”

“Their fates are unknown.”

“In that case, if his son survives and comes of age, he might seek to avenge his father.”

“It won’t stop there. He might aim to restore the Tytania and re-establish dominion over the universe as the legitimate Clanner heir.”

Hyulick grimaced at the utter wretchedness of the decaffeinated coffee.

“Now, hold on. Isn’t that exactly what Ajman himself wanted to do?”

“It is the height of irony. Yes, that was exactly what Ajman craved. A young man lost amongst the common folk, who is suddenly told one day, ‘You are the child of a king,’ and sets out to reclaim a kingdom.”

“What, so it’s a classic tale of a displaced prince? You mean to say Ajman simply wanted to be the hero of a fairy tale?”

As Miranda spoke in exasperation, Doctor Lee placed his coffee cup back on the table.

“Simply put, that’s exactly it. He had everything. Everything, except for what he actually needed.”

Behind that presence, that dignity, and that imposing physique, behind those heavy and arrogant words and deeds, what had been nurtured in silence, unknown to anyone, was nothing more than a mental degeneration born of resentment and self-righteousness.

“Perhaps Ajman pushed himself past his limits, continuing to play the part of the perfect Clanner. The oppression turned inwards and crushed him. Perhaps it is healthier to be like Mahdi, someone whose true intentions are obvious just by looking at them.”

“Why do you have to use me as an example?”

“Because you’re easy to understand.”

They were waiting for departure clearance at the civilian spaceport of Uraniborg. When legal permission was not forthcoming, they intended to resort to their usual tricks, but they could not force the issue while the spaceport was overflowing with people and supplies.

“So, how has His Imperial Majesty of Vardana taken the news of Clanner Ajman’s death? Having been bullied so relentlessly until now, he must be overjoyed.”

“They say he has lost all sense of restraint.”

“It seems he has been greatly liberated from his mental burdens. Even though it doesn’t concern us personally, it is worth celebrating.”

Because they were in a crowded rest area, they were making an effort not to raise their voices.

“But I wonder if the Vardana Empire can survive without Tytania.”

“That’s none of our concern. Or would you like to get involved with it, Miranda?”

“I’ll pass,” replied instantly the Princess. “One should not attempt things that are beyond their station. One year of experience was more than enough.”

“A wise decision.”

“I shall simply think of it as having had an interesting, long dream and return to my former life. Though, perhaps this current state is actually the dream itself.”

“So, in the end, what Tytania brought was an era of two hundred years of thoughtlessness?”

“Future generations might say it was a surprisingly happy era.”

“That depends entirely on how one defines happiness.”

The name of their ship was announced. Departure had been authorised. A group of men and women, wearing expressions of weary anticipation, began to leave the rest area.

“I wonder what future generations will call this coming era, Doctor?”

“I wonder.”

Doctor Lee pinched his chin with his fingertips.

“Perhaps it will be called ‘Zamana Masafent<ref name="ftn33">The expression used here (大空位時代) refers to the Great Interregnum, a period where the Holy Roman Empire didn't have a reigning emperor. However, it is pronounced as “Zamana Masafent” which is a period of Ethiopian history where, similarly, there was no centralised power.</ref>’.”

This implied that an era that was not a ‘vacancy<ref name="ftn34">“Great Interregnum” in Japanese is literally written “Period of Great Vacancy”.</ref>’ would one day arrive. Despite having said it himself, Doctor Lee felt a sense of doubt. Tytania had been too vast. So vast that she was beyond human control. So vast that, unless one were a madman, she could not be ruled alone.

A universe without Tytania. A world of chaos without order.

Unless there were long-lived beings exceeding two hundred years of age, all of humanity, possessing the capacity for thought, would be cast into an unknown dimension. The era in which one could find peace of mind by shifting responsibility onto others would vanish in a startlingly short period of time.

Just what, in the end, had Tytania been?

How should one live from this moment forward?

“And ultimately, everyone will arrive at a similar conclusion. That humanity must continue to live even without the existence of Tytania, and that, in fact, we are capable of doing so.”

“Is that your conclusion, Doctor?”

“It’s not a conclusion. It’s a prediction.”

After a group of men and women departed, another group occupied the vacated table. They looked exhausted from the very start as they ordered their drinks.




=== V ===
Enduring the absurdity of paying for coffee that tasted even worse than what she could have brewed herself, Seraphine Coopers asked:

“So, what are we going to do about Zelpha?”

“Ah, if it turns out he has nowhere else to go, I was thinking we might just adopt him ourselves.”

Miranda spoke lightly, and Mahdi’s laughter rang out, breaking a momentary silence, only to instantly turn into a shriek.

“Ow, stop it!”

“Even so, I am Her Highness the Princess of Casabianca. Have you forgotten? Or are you just pretending to have forgotten?”

“I remember, I remember! That’s why I’m telling you to stop pulling my ear. It’s going to tear off!”

When Miranda released her grip, Mahdi exaggeratedly rubbed his ear.

“Ooh, that hurt. But, tell me, you don’t intend to raise him as a young lord, do you? How exactly do you plan to raise him?”

“I shall raise him to be a splendid captain… though before that, he might try to kill us or run away and vanish.”

“Hey now, are you sure about that?”

“Suppose Seraphine decides to cook fried eggs for Hyulick every once in a while?”

“That was a remarkably sudden change of subject.”

Mahdi flicked the edge of his coffee cup with his fingertip, and Seraphine herself blinked, staring at Miranda.

“So, the egg is poured into the frying pan. The yolk maintains its shape, but the white changes form, spreading and flowing, until it gradually solidifies. It’s about what shape it ultimately takes when it hardens.”

“A fine metaphor,” remarked Doctor Lee.

“Is that so? I suppose it’ll be interesting waiting to see what kind of fried egg we get. I just hope it doesn’t become an addiction.”

Before he could even finish, Mahdi leaned his upper body away to avoid an attack on his ear. Glancing at that purely defensive manoeuvre, Hyulick turned to ask Doctor Lee.

“What about the name of the Blaze Flag Army from now on?”

“There is no copyright on it, so if anyone wants to use it, they are free to do so.”

“Is that really alright?”

“Fine by me. If those using it turn out to be a bunch of scoundrels, I’ll just accuse them of unauthorised use and fleece them for damages.”

“As expected of you.”

“If you pay a usage fee, I might even let you make it your own personal brand.”

“… No, I’ll pass.”

Fan Hyulick was struck by a physiological necessity, so he made his way to the appropriate place. Once he had finished, he stood in the bustling corridor, glancing aimlessly around his surroundings.

He doubted he would ever return to this place again. As he felt a sudden, uncharacteristic wave of sentimentality, a woman passed in front of Hyulick. His mouth parted slightly as he was captivated by her.

She was a beautiful woman. Was she around the age of twenty? Her attire was modest and elegant, without being ostentatious. Her features, while not quite peerless, were lovely enough to draw the eye and possessed a certain dignified grace.

Where could a beauty like that be going on a solo journey? No, she must have someone with her. Perhaps someone was waiting for her somewhere. Whoever they were, they were incredibly lucky. Just as that thought crossed his mind, the voice of Seraphine Coopers reached him.

“Fan, what are you doing!? Our ship’s name has finally been announced. If you don’t hurry, you’ll be left behind!”

“Yes, yes, I’m coming!”

Perhaps he, too, was quite fortunate. With that thought, the young man who had once caused a great upheaval throughout the entire universe ruffled his carrot-coloured hair and walked towards his companions with a brisk pace.

The beautiful woman did not even glance at Hyulick, but her approach to the service counter could only be described as cautious. She carefully compared the electronic timetable positioned above the counter with the small tablet in her hands.

“I’d like the earliest possible departure for Ementhal, please. For two people.”

“If it’s Ementhal, I can get you two seats. Although it doesn’t look like any other flights will be able to depart for the time being. Who even knows if the flight to Ementhal might be cancelled? However, you’re in luck, miss. A cancellation has just come through. But do you have cash on you?”

“Is a card not acceptable?”

“Well, miss, it would have been until now. But as you know, the Tytania payment system has crashed, and until it is restored, we have no choice but to settle payments in cash. Don’t worry, everything will be resolved within two days.”

“Very well. I can’t wait two days, so I will pay in cash.”

The clerk nodded, though a somewhat complicated emotion flickered across his face. He was a middle-aged man and, naturally, felt a fondness for the young, beautiful woman. He hoped to leave a good impression on her.

“Are you sure? Actually, the cheaper cabins<ref name="ftn35">“Room” (客室) is pronounced “cabin”.</ref> are being filled up first, so it will be a bit more expensive…”

“That’s fine. How much will it be?”

As the clerk announced the price, the young beauty smiled and nodded, then opened her bag and produced the cash. How could someone so young afford such an amount? He accepted the payment while wondering about that. Ordinarily, he would have pressed the button under the counter to call for Tytania guards just to be safe, but times had changed.

“Depending on the circumstances, I could offer a discounted rate.”

“Actually, my companion is in a wheelchair.”

“Goodness, you should have said so sooner. If you are travelling with a disabled person, you are entitled to priority boarding, and the price will be discounted by five per cent.”

“My, how kind of you. Thank you very much.”

“No, no, it is simply part of the service…”

On that day, the attendant carried out his work in high spirits, and several other passengers were fortunate enough to benefit from it.

The beautiful woman left the counter and moved behind a large rectangular pillar.

“Lord Jouslain.”

The man she addressed was seated in a wheelchair. He had bandages wrapped from his head across the upper half of his face, he wore dark sunglasses for the visually impaired, and his left arm hung in a sling from his shoulder. Though his condition was wretched, the suit he wore was brand new and looked expensive, despite looking plain. A thin blanket was draped over his knees.

This was the current state of Duke Jouslain Tytania.

“Ah, thank you… I truly am useless. If you weren’t here, Francia, I wouldn’t even be able to survive. I am a man of no value.”

“Speaking such self-deprecating things is not like you, Lord Jouslain.”

“Very well, I shall stop. Did you happen to run into anyone we know in the lobby?”

“No, fortunately, I didn’t run into anyone.”

In the end, Hyulick and Francia’s encounter concluded without them ever learning each other’s true identities.

Clanner Ajman was dead. Duke Ariabert was dead. Duke Zarlisch was dead. Duke Idris was dead. Only Duke Jouslain remained alive. If that fact became known, everyone would accept Jouslain as the next Clanner. Even having lost his sight and being paralysed from the waist down, his achievements and his balanced political leadership and mediation skills would be supported as being capable of maintaining the “''Pax Tytaniana''” for decades to come.

And after that?

New ambitious figures would emerge to vie for the next throne, new rivals would appear, and human society would watch the progress and the outcome with bated breath.

As he had stated, Jouslain desired to escape from Tytania and leave Uraniborg far behind. Francia shared this wish. For the time being, they would head to Ementhal. Since it was a major transport hub, it would allow them to travel even further into the frontier.

Jouslain recalled his visit to the doctor yesterday, under a pseudonym.

“Traumatic amaurosis. I am sorry, but no recovery can be expected.”

Francia’s hand tightened as she gripped Jouslain’s. Jouslain remained calm as he squeezed her hand back.

“A diagnosis fitting for me. Even with my eyes open, I can see nothing.”

The doctor added, in an attempt to prevent him from becoming too pessimistic:

“With cybernetic prosthetic eyes, you will be able to see again. However, insurance won’t cover it, so it would likely be quite expensive.”

“We shall discuss insurance later. How about his legs?”

Suppressing her irritation deep within, Francia fixed her eyes on the doctor with a look of trust, prompting him to blink as if squinting against a bright light.

“The bones from his right knee downwards have suffered complete committed fractures. I am terribly sorry to say this, but amputation will be necessary. As for the compound fracture in his left leg, it should recover in about three months.”

He went on to discuss surgery for the left shoulder, the cybernetic prosthetic leg, and how the fractures to the ribs and left shoulder would likely heal fully within about a month. The doctor tilted his head several times while speaking, likely because Jouslain’s face looked somewhat familiar. Francia had felt a moment of trepidation, but in the end, the doctor was so preoccupied with the impression Francia made that he failed to recognise Jouslain…

Francia spoke:

“The interstellar liner bound for Ementhal will depart in an hour. Let us go, Lord Jouslain.”

Francia turned Jouslain’s wheelchair around and began to move forward, pushing him from behind. Jouslain spoke to her over his shoulder:

“You could have opted for an electric model…”

“I want to push you myself. Please, let me do this my way.”

“I am sorry.”

“One day, you will be taking about how harsh I am. I intend to be quite strict when assisting you with your rehabilitation.”

After a brief silence, Jouslain spoke with deep sincerity:

“I shall rely on you, then.”

“Yes, yes, please do rely on me.”

Her voice sounded as though it were laced with tears. Upon the black canvas of his unseeing eyes, Jouslain tried to trace the fleeting images of Ariabert, Idris, and Zarlisch.

He decided that he would live on.



In later years, July SY&nbsp;447 was marked as the beginning of the Great Interregnum “Zamana Masafent”. The year of Duke Jouslain Tytania’s death is unknown.

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