Editing Tytania:Volume 4 Chapter 5 (section)

=== I ===
Since the combatants were both Tytania, if the victor was Tytania, then the loser was also Tytania. The media across the entire universe was faced with the difficult task of deciding how to report the outcome of the battle. Looking at the figures regarding the losses, it was patently clear “which Tytania” had emerged victorious, but fact, perception, and expression were three entirely different things.

The majority of the media in human society fell under the control of Tytania capital. This, too, was a frustrating reality for those involved. If they became too closely entwined with the current rulers, they risked facing purges in the next era; however, if they praised the victor too highly and the outcome was overturned in the next conflict, the consequences would be utterly disastrous.

Thus, the majority of the media chose the path of adhering to “objective reporting”. They presented figures for the losses sustained by both the Uraniborg faction and the Ariabert-Jouslain alliance, reported the official statements issued by each side verbatim, and included star charts and navigational maps, while strictly avoiding commentary. Their aim was to leave the final judgement entirely to the observer.

Consequently, for the general public with no connection to military affairs, the strategic significance of the Battle of the Hasdrubal System remained utterly unfathomable. Based on the casualties reported for both armies, it appeared that the Ariabert-Jouslain alliance had achieved a great victory. Yet, there was a growing consensus that Uraniborg still held immense forces in reserve, making a reversal of fortune highly possible… This general understanding, however, served only to frustrate both those reporting the news and those consuming it. As a result…

“Flukes don’t happen thrice<ref name="ftn27">“Flukes don't happen thrice” (まぐれは三度ない) is a proverb referring to the fact that lucky breaks and unexpected successes that don't rely on real abilities don't repeat themselves.</ref>—the fallen idol, Fan Hyulick.”

The young man selected as the sacrificial goat was a carrot-haired youth who, until very recently, had even been misidentified as the “Commander-in-Chief of the anti-Tytania Allied Forces”. When Hyulick had appeared in the cosmos by defeating the undefeated Ariabert with a brilliant stratagem, the jubilant media moguls had all turned their palms at once. If wind pressure had existed in outer space, it would have surely knocked out of orbit a planet or two.

Now, while avoiding any contact with spacecraft, they headed towards the direction of planet Ementhal for the time being. Inside the fleeing ''Honest Old Man Junior'', the pirates wore gloom-ridden expressions. All the dreams, hopes, and calculations they had been so heavily laden with until just a few days ago had been cast aside somewhere in the depths of space.

Doctor Lee tossed several of the published articles onto the table.

“They say even Hell has a bottom. There is a certain pleasure in breaking through that floor and seeing just how much further one can fall.”

“Only if there is a guarantee that we can ascend again.”

Hyulick replied in a sullen tone, rubbing the back of his head with one hand. It still felt as though a dull ache remained. Ever since regaining consciousness, Hyulick had harboured no ill will toward Walenkov, the one who had carried out the act. It was men like Doctor Lee whom he found far more loathsome.

“It isn’t so bad. Perhaps you feel relieved to be liberated from such a hollow reputation.”

Mahdi pricked Hyulick with a needle of sarcasm. Miranda attempted to soothe the tension.

“Well, try not to be too disheartened. Even if it is a shame.”

“Not really. Nothing good ever came of it, even when people were praising me for whatever it was.”

Hyulick’s response was curt. In truth, over the past year, he had been hunted as an enemy of Tytania, imprisoned, escaped, only to be captured once more; the woman he had loved was killed, and just when he thought he had finally taken his revenge, he himself had been treated as the villain and nearly killed. He had not known a single day of peace, having been tossed about in a whirlpool of politics, warfare, and intrigue, only to end up in this wretched state.

“Babylon, Troy, Rome, Carthage—all were destined to reach their final day…”

“Which planets are you even talking about?”

“They were empires that existed in the distant past. Each reached the height of prosperity, only to fall.”

“So, it is the same for Tytania?”

“Nothing is eternal. Even the universe itself will vanish in some tens of billions of years.”

“That has nothing to do with me. As long as I can eat a decent omelette tonight, I am satisfied.”

Hyulick clasped his hands behind his head.

There were no profound feelings regarding the defeat. While he could not help but feel a sense of guilt toward the fallen soldiers, as for Idris Tytania, he felt like telling him, “It’s your own fault for choosing me.”

Regarding Ariabert Tytania, he felt that losing this time was only natural, so there was no bitterness. If anything, he even felt as though he had settled a debt. It was strange, but he had actually harboured a feeling that he had been unfairly tarnishing Ariabert’s reputation until now.

“Yes, yes, let’s have ham and onion omelettes for dinner tonight, then.”

Seraphine dismissed him lightly.

In the end, humanity did not abandon the flora and fauna of nature in favour of consuming synthetic foods. As they abandoned their ancient, primordial home planet and journeyed one after another into outer space, what were installed within the migration ships were not factories for producing synthetic food but rather hydroponic farms and livestock rearing units.

The flora and fauna of Earth were introduced upon planets habitable or terraformed<ref name="ftn28">“Terraforming” (地球化) is pronounced “terraforming”.</ref>. Naturally, this drew fierce criticism from those advocating for the preservation of celestial environments, but such opposition proved powerless against the human desire to expand their living space. As long as they remained confined to their original home planets, the human population could not exceed ten billion.

As a result of the choices made by ancestors many dozens of generations ago, chickens were being raised even on the surfaces of planets hundreds of light-years away from Earth, and a young man with carrot-coloured hair was eating the eggs they produced.

Whether they won or lost, whether they pursued or fled, they were hungry. The healthy fugitives took their seats at the dining hall table.

“I wonder just what the Tytania Clanner is thinking.”

“Who knows?”

“Heh, so there are things even the Doctor doesn’t understand, then?”

“It might be surprising, but that is indeed the case.”

Answering with such composure to Hyulick, who had become like an unruly toddler, Doctor Lee quietly returned the overly chewy bread to his plate.

“While I was at Uraniborg, I hoped to meet the Clanner somehow… I didn’t care about the formality, whether it was an audience or a mere sighting. I just wanted to look into those eyes directly.”

Doctor Lee shook his head slightly.

“When you think about it, it is quite something. Without even showing himself, the Clanner’s presence weighs upon the entire universe. Billions of people entrust their fates and their very lives to a single word of his.”

“I wonder when he will actually appear before the public.”

As Pagès spoke, twirling pasta around his fork, Miranda responded:

“Perhaps he is simply waiting for the most effective moment?”

“For example?”

“Well, let’s see. How about this: Duke Ariabert and Duke Jouslain thoroughly defeat Duke Idris, and just as Uraniborg is on the verge of falling, he makes his grand appearance?”

“And then, by delivering a single sharp reprimand to both Duke Ariabert and Duke Jouslain, he strikes such fear into them that they surrender immediately, thereby upholding the Clanner’s authority?”

Mahdi picked up his coffee cup.

“That sounds a bit… no, it sounds very much like a cheap three-cent melodrama. Don’t you think? If even a single step goes wrong, the entire cast and the stage itself will plummet into the orchestra pit.”

“No, it is entirely possible.”

Multiple gazes converged upon Doctor Lee.

“Mahdi aptly referred to it as a piece of theatre, and I, too, certainly shared that impression. If things continue as they are, Tytania will fracture, the universe will fall into chaos, and the people will yearn for order and a powerful leader.”

Hyulick swallowed the last morsel of his omelette.

“Even so, at this late stage, will both dukes kneel before the Clanner? Dukes Ariabert and Jouslain have complete control over their forces, and they are already closing in on Uraniborg. Do you really think they would choose to surrender without a fight now?”

“Uraniborg still commands a massive force.”

“Well, if they scrambled enough resources, they could likely call upon ten or twenty thousand ships from various regions to rush to the aid of Uraniborg. But the question is, who would take overall command?”

Fan Hyulick’s reputation was ruined by this recent defeat. Truth be told, the one most relieved by this was Hyulick himself; it was perhaps a matter of irony, or perhaps a lack of virtue, but aside from his mastery of ambush tactics, the young man possessed nothing more than the shrewdness of a commoner.

“If a military genius were to suddenly appear from out of nowhere and annihilate the armies of Duke Ariabert and Duke Jouslain just as they were on the verge of a complete victory. That person would be able to make the entire universe bow before them.”

“That’s a pipe dream, Doctor. There’s no way someone like that exists.”

“He might exist.”

“As if such a convenient story could exist in reality.”

“No, he really truly might. It is simply that we have been ignoring him.”

The group looked at one another, and each saw a look of unease reflected on the others’ faces.

“Who are you talking about, Doctor?”

“Clanner Ajman himself.”