Editing Rakuin no Monshou:Volume4 Chapter6 (section)

=== Part 3 ===

In the meantime, as Yuriah had speculated, Orba's group had gone overland and was crossing the Domick Flats. They had left Apta the evening before the Doom flew off as a decoy. However, it was a distance that would take five days to cover on horseback. By travelling day and night, that time could be reduced by half but of course it was impossible for either horses or people to go without rest.

Therefore, Orba had sent a messenger to Birac before leaving Apta. Having requested it from the wealthy Birac merchant Zaj Haman, who dealt mainly in transporting goods by airship, after a day on horseback galloping almost non-stop, they were now on the high speed cruiser that had been prepared.

The several dozen soldiers and horses were allowed to rest for a night on board the ship while it continued cruising. There was currently no one in Solon who knew of the connection between Zaj and the prince. Accordingly, the convoy disguised as merchant vessels wasn't halted.
Once the ships ran out of ether, they resumed their exhausting ride on horseback.

And so, three days after leaving Apta, Orba's group reached the plains looking out to the Nouzen mountains and met up with Kain's troops.


"Or-"

When he saw Orba's figure galloping towards them, Kain spread both arms wide in unconcealed joy. Gouwen shut him up since he who was supposed to be Orba was just about to yell out "Orba" to someone else.

Gouwen quickly kneeled to the ground and gave a proper bow from a subject.

"Your Highness, I certainly did not think that Your Highness would come in person. Nor are we able to properly welcome you..."

"It's fine." Dismounting from his horse, Orba was as curt as ever.

''Oho.'' - Suddenly realising that there was something different, Gouwen made eye contact with Shique who was behind Orba. The fair-faced former gladiator nodded his slender jaw. From that alone, Gouwen was able to guess a number of things concerning Orba and Oubary.

''So he really did come, huh?''

His arms folded, Pashir watched the prince from a distance. He didn't have an in-depth understanding of him, only a kind of presentiment. But it worried him somewhat that the prince's face held no 'spirit'.

''Even though in Apta, even when he wore the appearance of calm, his 'spirit' was so dazzling it was terrifying.''

For some reason, he gave the impression that all the drive and ambition he had worn around him had crumbled and fallen away. Going by Pashir's memories, a gladiator who would always be seething with 'spirit' might suddenly one day make that kind of face. Since a gladiator's daily life was to throw themselves into life-or-death fights, it was natural that there came a time when they grew tired of that routine.

''Those gladiators who lost their fixation on fighting'',

Or in other words who lost their fixation on life, died.

While Pashir inwardly felt somewhat uneasy, he didn't directly mention it to the prince. It wasn't because he was the prince of that Mephius which he would never stop resenting but because he still couldn't get the measure of Gil Mephius - including of his own feelings towards him.

The report that the prince had managed to reach there in person was also transmitted to Odyne Lorgo's encampment.

About two hours after Orba's group had arrived, Odyne himself with only twenty horsemen in attendance stood before him as an envoy. Although it was broad daylight, the sky had suddenly become overcast and the clouds cast a shadow over the plains surrounding the mountains.

Odyne had certainly not expected that the prince would come in person. After expressing words of greeting with a grim expression, he gave a firm warning.

"My deepest apologies but in this too I am upholding His Majesty the emperor's orders. I cannot allow Your Highness to go any further."

Sitting on a folding chair before the cruiser, Gil didn't look Odyne. He was staring up at the sky.

"Is it going to rain?" He asked Gowen who was kneeling beside him. The former overseer of slaves looked towards the sky,

"The weather should still hold today."

"Is that so. If it rains, the water in the River Wendt might rise and block Ende's advance through the bottom of the valley."

During the journey, he had heard of Ende's advance from Zaj's envoy. Of course, it was only the broad outline with none of the finer details.
The colour rose in Odyne Lorgo's face. As previously mentioned, he did not think much of Gil for promoting slaves. His tone spontaneously grew ruder.

"With all due respect, all sensible people are unanimous in questioning Your Highness' actions. You make the likes of slaves your direct retainers and form alliances with Ax. If this time you disobey His Majesty's orders, you will not be able to explain it away and it will be seen as rebellion."

Gil still kept his mouth shut.

From Odyne's point of view, the prince had probably believed that by coming in person, he would be able to overrule the situation. But even though the prince had begun to show some aptitude for warfare, it should be obvious what would happen if he defied the current emperor.

''This is a stupid mission''.

Odyne personally did not believe that the emperor's current way of doing things was befitting of a soldier. Nor was it the duty of a proud military commander to prevent reinforcements from reaching an ally. Nevertheless, under the present circumstances, with Ryucown in Garbera then Zaat in Mephius almost kindling the fires of rebellion, one needed to be careful not to act in such a way as to throw internal affairs out of step.

Orba for his part had his eyes trained far above Odyne's head.

''That's right, huh. There's no need for it anymore.''

His thoughts were spinning. By 'need', he meant the need to act. When he met a new person as Gil, it was usual for Orba to feign ill-humour. From the words that pulled out of the other person, he could guess at what kind of relationship that person had with Prince Gil. It seemed to have become an ingrained habit.

"Odyne."

"Yes."

Orba looked the military commander in the eyes for the first time. As it was sudden, Odyne Lorgo shrank back a little.

"In other words, you won't move out of my way."

''Do I need to repeat myself''... Recovering himself, Odyne suppressed a look of contempt.

"It isn't criticism of you, my prince, this is the emperor's command..."

"Leave the tedious repetitions. In other words, you aren't able to read between the lines to the emperor's innermost thoughts and only do exactly as told, making you a disgrace to Mephius' military. If you act without thinking even for matters of such importance, you would probably really enjoy becoming someone's slave. You could eat the food you're given, move about as ordered, then sleep."

"Your Highness. Y-Your Highness, did you call me a slave?" His voice choked in his throat from fury.

"Your Highness!"

Sounds of commotion broke out from the Imperial Guards. They remembered the scene when general Oubary had arrived at Apta fortress and a drunken prince had brandished a sword at him. Right now, Gil Mephius had drawn the short sword at his waist and held it against the nape of Odyne's neck.

"If you're saying I'm wrong, then instead of 'His Majesty, His Majesty', speak your own words, Odyne. Whose soul would your words resonate with, those words that claim that simply watching while Garbera is in danger doesn't sully a warrior's soul in the slightest?"

"..."

At Gil Mephius' words, Odyne Lorgo shook. Not his body. His heart, as that of a warrior who had commanded across battlefields for more than twenty years.

Then there came the voice of someone who could not possibly have been there.

"For abandoning an ally, this country will henceforth be open to every bitter criticism. In all likelihood, it will only give our neighbouring countries just cause for attacking the unscrupulous Mephius."

"Rogue-dono!"

To say nothing of Odyne who was the first to turn around, even Gil couldn't hide his surprised expression. A new group on horseback was drawing closer. At its head was the veteran army general, Rogue Saian.

"Rogue-dono", Odyne's expression grew pained even as he kneeled. "For wilfully moving a military unit, you too will be severely blamed by His Majesty."

"What is that? I've heard that tonight the moon will be beautiful to behold. Thinking it would be a shame to go moon-viewing alone, I brought this party along with me. Ah but, we're a little early, aren't we?"

The veteran who had once accompanied Prince Gil on his first campaign casually looked up at the sky. The light was fading as dark clouds gathered, and it was by no means a fair prospect for being able to see the moon.

"My orders are to halt any reinforcements sent from Apta."

"Odyne. You still..."

"However!" Odyne interrupted Rogue, "There are places that my eyes cannot reach. There, no matter where you or the prince himself may be going, I would not be able to stop you."

"Odyne."

"... Naturally, I will be reporting this to His Majesty. Did you say that the moon will be wonderful tonight? Gazing at it while going along the way, one might find themselves arriving in Solon tomorrow morning", said Odyne Lorgo.

"Then please excuse me", he addressed the prince before leaving. He waved a hand at his subordinates. How many unsaid words were condensed in that way? The twenty riders he had brought with him still wore severe expressions, however they nodded as one and turned their horses around.

The raised a cloud of dust as they left and while seeing them off,

"That fellow, he isn't a bad man", Rogue said with a very matter-of-fact expression on his face, "but he is a bit too honest."

"So even in Mephius, you find all sorts."

"What did you say?"

"No-Nothing."

Shique and Gowen were surprised to hear Orba's despondent voice.

In fact, various sensations were welling up inside Orba's chest. Since Mephians had burned down his native village, Orba was dubious about the "honour" they claimed to uphold, but perhaps there were Mephians who did follow it.

"I'm grateful, General."

"There is no need to be grateful. Right, shall we go? I haven't been to Zaim since the war. Oh, but last time our destination was also Zaim, wasn't it? It must be by some strange fate..."

"No General, you will pull back here."

"Why such an order?"

"No matter how you turn it, the truth is that this is in defiance of Father. It's best I bear the blame alone."

"B-But..."

"Give my regards to your family. I might come and bother them with a visit soon."

At the mention of his family, Rogue's gaze dropped down a little. Orba had visited the general before and they had feasted on food and wine. Why was it that Orba had recalled something from so long ago.

"Oh, and also, your son and Odyne's daughter seem to be close. Make sure this doesn't cause a rift in their childhood friendship."

"Prince."

Probably because emotions suddenly welled up, Rogue Saian put a finger to his forehead and turned his face away.

''I'm also being soft'', thought Orba. However, considering the future from here on, he could not take on new 'responsibilities' now. With this...

Because Orba had decided that this would be the last duty he would accomplish.


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