Editing Rakuin no Monshou:Volume3 Chapter5 (section)

===Part 2===
The conference took place in the Gajira Plains, distanced equally between Apta and Taúlia. It was across the Yunos River and seven kilometres west through mountainous terrain within Taúlia dominion. Ax thoroughly investigated the area in case some uncalled-for schemes from the enemy awaited him and set up tent.

There was still a bit of time until the promised noon. The sky was cloudy, and lukewarm winds blew aimlessly. It was unpleasant weather.

Ax led a mere twelve soldiers here. Other than that, there was only two airships he had prepared to to survey from air. It was to show of Ax’s boldness, but there was a crowd in his surroundings.

“Seems the lord of Taúlia is having a meeting with Mephius’ prince!”

“I wonder what kind of person the Mephius successor is.”

They were the people living in the nearby villages, and desperately trying to get a closer look across the fence the soldiers had set up.

In the western world that prospered the collapse of countless powers whereby(and) the prospering collapse, the Bazgan House’s history was all the more long and its people’s lives also protected. In the other regions, it wasn’t rare for rulers to change several times in the span of a year, and each time, the governing body would be thrown into disarray and the people wheezing<!--racked--> in hardships, to only have the soldiers and mercenaries turn burglar and assault them frequently. Many things happened that disrupted peaceful living. 

“Should we drive them away?” 

A soldier from within the tent asked as he pushed the opening to look outside.

“Leave it, leave it.”

Ax shook his head as he wiped the sweat off his neck. It was humid.

“Our Taúlian people are dogged. Even if you drive them away, they’ll immediately conceal themselves and watch us. Did you know? When there’s a struggle nearby, there’s even a bunch that bring boxed lunches to watch it,” Ax said straightly.

And though his people’s backbone was clear as day to him, that same notice did not reach so far as to his own blood relations’ action-taking.

In a place separate from where the citizens gathered, were people viewing the conference spot from far away. A man leading his horse and a hooded women closely cuddling up to him. Their appearances were suspicious, so a soldier had called them to a stop and asked to remove the hood, but then they were immediately driven away.

“I wonder if he was ordered to by father.”

“I gave him plenty of threats. That guy knows what will happen if he angers me.”

“Well,” the girl spoke in a laughing voice that rang out like a bell, “you sure are scary, Bouwen. Even if you are reputed as the gentle boy that loves birds and flowers.”

“P-Please stop it, princess. Look, we don’t know who might be watching.”

The one with his face reddening was the adopted son of Grand Duke Hergo, Bouwen Tedos. He was still young, some would even say child-faced, but he was also a general commanding a part of Taúlia’s army; those eyes that occasionally kept watch of the surroundings were stern.

And the woman referred to as ‘princess’ was Ax’s daughter, Esmena Bazgan. Unlike her father whose forehead was surrounded by incessant wrinkles, her features were extremely gentle. Her big eyes glistened with curiosity and her luscious lips naturally broke into a smile.

“Aah, outside feels great! As I thought, I can’t go being holed up in my room. It feels like my body and mind are rotting. That’s why I had that repulsive dream.”

Bouwen returned a smile, though in fact, he was looking at his childhood friend three years younger than him with heartrended thoughts.

''That she can say a cloudy day like this, with such ill-blowing winds, feels great...''

It should be considered extremely depressing weather. The princess, raised under Ax’s fundamentally overprotective bearing, had been confined in her room since the aforementioned disturbance with the nightmare, and additionally guarded by some several dozens of soldiers; a state of house arrest. Surveillance so strict that taking even a single step out the door warranted her father’s permission, and that might cause her to raise the white flag before the various nightmares could. 

''Although, even with assigning that many guards, it’s a fact things will end up like before. It’s abnormal.'' 

All the soldiers he questioned on guard duty that evening heard the princess’ weeping. And their memories from thereon had been completely wiped. When they were discovered, everyone—those outside the room, those in the corridors, those on the roof were all fast asleep.

Everyone. There was not in the slightest way this was simple negligence.

''Magic that affected a covered distance was from more than 200 years ago. Why would that manifest now—''

Bouwen ground his teeth, when the people rose into a stir. A single air carrier appeared as a dot under the ashen sky. It drew closer before their eyes. It appeared to be a cruiser-class ship. Bouwen had collected his share of information on Apta. Since the prince had not used any ships when he departed from Solon, that would make it the sole carrier available in Apta.

From it, small airships launched, carrying its passengers to the ground.

“Ho, so that’s…”

Bouwen muttered. Esmena also watched them intensely. Descending were five people. It went without saying the leading youth was Mephius’ first prince, Gil. He was lightly armed, but as per custom, he placed the sword hanging on his waist onto the ground.

He walked up halfway towards the tent. Ax exited and exchanged words of greeting.

“I’ve heard stories, but he’s surprisingly young.”

Bouwen glared at the young successor of his longtime enemy Mephius with piercing eyes. These were turbulent times such that it wasn’t rare for men to adorn their first campaign at the age of thirteen or fourteen, but seventeen was a bit too young to be attending a meeting as a country’s representative.

''That is...a person from a different country.''

Esmena murmured in an inaudible whisper. Although there had been merchants from other countries that came to Taúlia, the number Esmena could meet were severely limited. Especially with those from their historically contested enemy, the Mephians, although she had heard many stories of them.

''Well, I wasn’t really expecting them to be any different from us.''

Seeing them with her own eyes, she nodded convinced. There was no way they would have horns or tails, and she didn’t see them as that savage. Mephius’ prince was certainly young, but she could also see all his retainers valiantly confront her fearsome father. As proof of that, her father tried to invite them into the tent, but the prince declined and pointed to the surrounding ground. 

After her father made the usual sour face, he ordered the soldiers from inside the tent to set up a long table and chairs. The prince had likely proposed to hold the meeting outside. Before long, her father was seated across from him. 

''What could they be talking about?''

As far as Princess Esmena was concerned, even this trivial matter was like a great adventure to her. It was a heart-pounding excitement.

Above all, the prince of their archenemy. Esmena unwittingly felt herself drawn towards this youth who carried features from a land unbeknownst to her. That might have been an omen of the future.



“Now then, O’ young Mephian prince,” 

Ax Bazgan initiated.

“Our ancestors have long since thousands, and tens of thousands of years past, explored our homeworld and settled into these lands, handing them onto us. We have succeeded their frontier spirit, but their decennial oath sworn in the lands of the Seirin Valley was ultimately never fulfilled in ten years time.”

“So long as there is merit, I shall not seek conflict.”

“That’s right,” Ax shook his head. “‘These vast lands and boons are before us. Why do we fight and divide them?’ —Those are famous lines used even in plays, but in the end, humans are beings who inflate to match their insatiable desires. In the midst of the battle against the former inhabitants, the Ryuujin Tribe, the one to turn his gun on his own brothers was none other than one of the five sages who established the decennial oath, an old female scientist.” 

“You’re well informed.”

“And in this way, we now shed our blood competing with one another. I won’t say anything clever, like how this is truly absurd. However, if a futile battle can be avoided, I believe there’s nothing better than to do so. I’ll say this outright, Prince Gil. Withdraw from Apta.”

“That’s a really interesting proposal.”

Prince Gil grinned and looked back into Ax’s eyes.

''This damn greenhorn’s getting ahead of himself.''

Of course, Ax did not think once he would obediently accept the proposal. He was observing Orba's behavior taking a high-handed attitude, regardless of his character.

“Once I obtain Apta, the west’s power balance will undergo a drastic upheaval. Within two years, no, in under a single year, I will unite it. Moreover prince, I’ve prepared to form an alliance with your Mephius.”

“My thoughts of avoiding a battle are the same, Lord Ax. All the more reason why there should be no need to put things off. We should join oaths of friendship ''right here, right now''.”

“And who would believe that the prince and I joined hands and pledged here? You aren’t the emperor yet. When a man of no credence hopes to get something, he must provide some definitive compensation<!--collatoral--> in return. That would be Apta. It is to our mutual benefit that—”

“I don’t have the least intention of leaving Apta.” Gil’s expression remained unchanged. “Bazgan-dono, you’re saying selfish things. It’s you who desperately wants the alliance with Mephius so you can focus on the west.”

“What?”

“But you’ve been in conflict with Mephius for a long time. As far as the Bazgan family is concerned, it has been stirring into its men that Mephius is their longtime enemy. That you would just join hands with that enemy without gaining anything is bound to brand you a coward and traitor. That’s why you first tried taking Mephius’ fortress through armed might.”

''Tch. I won’t be able to strike a deal with this one.''

Saying it so outrightly like this would only cut off both sides’ path of retreat. Ax irritatedly flexed his hands over his lap.

''Or could it be he even hopes we have a frontal collision? No—if that was the case, then he wouldn’t have gone out of his way to request an audience like this.''

Gil had his own weakness. Ax was of course aware of this, but he was hesitant if he should actually say it. That would really be the final straw in cutting off his final path of retreat.

“Prince Gil, aren’t you being a bit discourteous? It was you who proposed this meeting. As a matter of fact, I expect you to return the men you took prisoner using your cowardly traps as compensation for responding your invitation.”

“Do you still not understand, Lord Bazgan?”

“What is it that I don’t understand?”

“The one who triumphed in battle was us, Mephius. And the ones who will continue to triumph shall also be us. However, I’ve been thinking of having Taúlia function as a buffer between us and the west. That’s why I didn’t storm you by force. It should allow you, Lord Ax, to concentrate on unifying the west without worry of being attacked from behind. It is ''we'' who are offering you our hands.”

“Ho—”

Ax felt a violent rage surge within. Ax had never engaged with a man who irritated him this badly. He felt as if his long-standing Bazgan House’s authority had been trampled under his feet. So he too, finally unleashed those words he had locked within himself.

“I see. Triumph, huh. I’ll concede that. It was you that cornered my beloved vassal Natokk and his men, who fight so heroically. But all of that was because you had Garbera’s reinforcements! They cannot stay in Apta forever. Now, when the time comes, O heroic Gil, can your forces alone withstand Taúlia’s onslaught?”

“That is…”

Even Gil’s spirit had dampened from that, and he averted his gaze. A feeling of relief washed over Ax as he saw this, but it appeared the warning had been ''too'' effective, and he suddenly raised his head.

“That was a declaration of attack, huh. You heartlessly refused our hand, and insist on shedding blood in battle to the bitter end, is it? Very well. I, Gil Mephius, shall neither run nor hide. Even without Garbera’s troops, do you believe I will be defeated by a swindler like you?”

“What?!”

While Ax’s roar continued to resound in the surroundings, Orba kicked himself up from his chair, turned around, and hurling orders to his soldiers, once more rose into the sky. Completely dumbfounded by his actions, Ax Bazgan did not make a move during that time and watched as the airship was taken into the cruiser disappearing into the ashen sky. 

“How dare he,” Ax roared in a fit of anger as he beat the fan into his palm. “A mere kid dares to sully my honour? Ravan! Ravan Dol, are you there?!”

“I’m here,” the old strategist replied, sticking his head out from within the tent’s curtain to confirm the situation. He approached Bazgan, his eyes turned away from the commotionally astir people.

[[Image:Rakuin no Monshou v03_209.jpg|thumb]]
“It’s as I’ve heard from the rumours. He’s a fool. Words won’t reach him! Ready the preparations. Once you’ve confirmed Garbera has left the fortress this time, attack them immediately. We’re doing it over!”

“Please wait, my lord.”

In contrast to the lord who almost seemed to have steam blowing from his ears, Ravan Dol was as cool as could be.”

“It is a trap.”

“A trap?”

“As far as rumours go, that prince is neither foolish nor without discretion. He likely has some plan. Provoking us into attacking is a part of it. Well, if he was truly discerning, he would also be able to tell bad acting when he sees it.”

“Are you trying to make fun of me, or are you giving me advice? Which is it?” Ax demanded, clenching his teeth. “But still, a trap you say? I don’t believe it. That an ignorant greenhorn would draw up such a plan. Then as I suspected, it means the Garberan reinforcements are coming.”

“I’ve set watch over the roads connecting to Apta, yet there are no signs of it. That in itself is stranger than strange. Hmm...my lord, why don’t we take up his invitation?”

“What are you saying? You’re the one who called it a trap.”

“There is a big difference between charging the enemy without knowing anything and moving your forces aware that it is a trap. Even if the enemy forces may be lurking somewhere, purposely provoking us can only mean one thing. They are waiting for us. Understanding even that much allows us to proceed a number of ways.”

Ax watched as Ravan Dol stroked his chin saying this with ample confidence. “Fine,” he said, and reached out to grab the fan in his waist. He flicked the stem of the golden-stringed fan against his lap.

“No matter what, I’ll see to it that he gets on his knees begging and never sees a peaceful sleep ever again. This time, I’m heading out personally!”

He declared with a face worthy of a man who had charged through many battlefields.

On the other end, some distance away, Esmena Bazgan’s shoulders were trembling.

“I wonder if it will turn into a war.”

“It will.” Bouwen’s young face flushed red. “The lord is making that sort of face. This could become the decisive battle with our longtime enemy Mephius.” 

Esmena kept silent. She was uneasy and fearful but somewhere else the figure of the prince who had come from another land she’d just seen had, like a heavy boulder, impressed itself and submerged deep into her heart.

''Garda...''

It dealt a blow to Esmena Bazgan so heavy it was enough to dispel the darkness she’d seen in the midst her dreams. To phrase it more commonly, at that time Esmena experienced something akin to love at first sight.