Editing Tytania:Volume 4 Chapter 3 (section)

=== III ===
“Even so, there is something I cannot comprehend. There should have been some two thousand patrol and guard vessels stationed along the routes the rebels have traversed thus far. Why, then, is there no word of any engagement? Why did they not fight?”

“Two thousand vessels against twenty thousand?”

Since Idris remained silent, one of the officers spoke up hesitantly.

“If we are ordered to fight under such conditions, we shall lose all two thousand vessels and over a hundred thousand men.”

“Are you saying victory is impossible?”

“It… it is difficult to say.”

“Victory is not required.”

“…………?”

“Instead, inflict equivalent losses upon the rebels. Destroy two thousand vessels and kill over a hundred thousand soldiers.”

A wave of agitation swept across the faces of the officers. Idris’ words were nothing short of brutal. He was demanding they fight Ariabert and the others on the premise of their own total annihilation.

“If we can buy even a small amount of time through such a means, we will be able to deploy forty thousand undamaged ships to the front of Uraniborg.”

Idris stood up.

“Uraniborg is an inviolable sanctuary. If we hold out here, with our accumulated supplies, we can maintain our position for five years. If we seize the opportunity to await reinforcements from the various star systems and strike the rebel forces in coordination with both internal and external forces, then victory should be certain. What is it that you all fear?”

Idris’ impassioned speech possessed a certain level of persuasiveness. Certainly, considering the current military strength, it was clear that Idris’ side held the advantage, whether the conflict turned into a short-term decisive battle or a long-term war of attrition.

“However, if we are capable of mobilising at least forty thousand ships, I question the wisdom of entrenching ourselves within Uraniborg without engaging in a single battle.”

“If we possess twice the enemy’s forces yet avoid fleet combat, what will the various national governments think of us?”

Such unspoken voices flew through the air, yet not a single soul possessed the experience of commanding a fleet of forty thousand vessels. Furthermore, with Ariabert as their opponent, no one dared to strongly advocate for a decisive fleet battle.

A single officer’s question broke the silence that lasted for several seconds.

“What shall we do regarding the Emperor of Vardana? He may harbour ill intentions and take advantage of this opportunity.”

“The Emperor?”

Idris, who had only just remembered Harsha&nbsp;VI, gave a derisive snort.

“Leave him be. We have no business with him, and he can do nothing… Still, I wonder, what sort of foolishness is that incompetent ruler even contemplating?”

“I apologise, but we have yet to grasp any specific details.”

“Then, once you have grasped something concrete, report to me again. Until then, there is neither a need nor a worth in responding.”

As he spoke with such chilling detachment, Idris realised that he did not particularly hate Harsha&nbsp;VI. It was Ariabert and Jouslain whom he hated; Harsha&nbsp;VI was not even worth the energy expenditure of his hatred. His heart was so transparently shallow that it was almost pitiable.



The Emperor of Vardana, Harsha&nbsp;VI, was being beset by intermittent fits of euphoria.

The vast majority of his life and mental activity had been consumed by his hatred for Tytania. Now, that very Tytania had splintered and descended into armed conflict.

A sense of passivity, as though his self-control was returning, whispered to Harsha&nbsp;VI’s nerves: ''Do not rejoice so openly in front of others; it is dangerous''. Harsha&nbsp;VI attempted to obey that voice, yet he could not suppress a trembling murmur:

“Tytania… Tytania…”

Duke Zarlisch had already met an untimely end. Harsha&nbsp;VI had secretly raised a toast to that fact, but now it was the turn of the remaining three dukes. He hoped they would not form any alliances. They might as well fight one another to the death. The other two were preferable to Idris, but in the end, Tytania was Tytania.

Thus, when Empress Aisha appeared to check on his mood, the Emperor, while fiddling with a black pearl from planet Igipten, posed a question with haste:

“Regarding the recent events, how about I issue an imperial decree?”

“What do you mean, ‘how about’…?”

“Tytania has split. She has divided into two factions and fallen into internal conflict. I shall issue a decree to one of them, guaranteeing their legitimacy. The other shall be branded a rebel army. I believe this would have a significant political impact.”

The Empress instinctively glanced to her left and right, letting out a silent sigh deep within her chest. It was not that she was passionately in love with her husband, but they had shared a connection for six years, and she felt a sense of responsibility befitting her station.

She whispered, taking care not to wound his feelings:

“What will you do if the one to whom you issue your imperial decree is defeated? I fear that the victor’s wrath will be directed at Your Majesty himself. Should such a thing occur, the imperial lineage of Vardana will be placed in peril. I implore you, Your Majesty, please exercise restraint.”

“M-mmm…”

Harsha&nbsp;VI groaned. Naturally, he had no desire to die, but had she pointed that out more directly, he undoubtedly would have erupted in anger. Empress Aisha understood her husband’s character well and had chosen her words of persuasion with great skill.

“I never wish to lay eyes up at Uraniborg again. To think that a mere subject would look down upon me, their sovereign!”

“However, Your Majesty, should the unthinkable happen and Uraniborg were to drift from its orbit and fall to the surface, the planet Vardana itself would be annihilated.”

A crater nearly one hundred kilometres in diameter would be carved into the earth, and violent storms would whip up trillions of tonnes of dust and debris, obscuring the light of the star. The surface temperature would drop by seven or eight degrees Celsius, and that darkness would persist for twenty years.

“I implore you, do not act in haste. Whether Tytania splits or collapses, Your Majesty’s duty is to ensure that the Imperial Lineage of Vardana continues safely. Prudence should be your first priority.”

At the wise Empress’ counsel, Harsha&nbsp;VI nodded repeatedly, once, twice, and then a third time.



Idris’ anxiety and suspicion regarding the true intentions of Clanner Ajman, who had failed to show himself, had not entirely vanished. However, since Ariabert and Jouslain had departed for planet Bargash, the weight of those concerns had clearly diminished within him. As the moment for a direct confrontation with a formidable foe approached, the necessity of preparing for actual combat had suddenly eclipsed his preoccupation with the Clanner’s true motives. If he were to be caught in the middle of wondering, ''“What are the Clanner’s true intentions?”'' only to be struck by Ariabert’s cannon fire, Idris’ name would surely become a synonym for “fool”.

Furthermore, the evidence that Idris clearly descended from the main line of the Tytania bloodline lay in his very defiance at this critical hour.

“If they refuse to appear no matter how much I request it, then let them do as they please. I shall simply do as I see fit. Since they have issued no instructions and shown no right of veto, they have no right to complain about whatever I may do. On the contrary, I shall achieve great feats in the Clanner’s absence and seize actual power. And once I have it, I shall never let it go.”

Thus, Idris ultimately ended up validating the criticisms levelled against him by Ariabert and Jouslain. Using the Clanner’s “absence” as his justification, he began to wield dictatorial power.

There were no visible changes to the daily routines of life or business within Uraniborg. The lowest-ranking Tytania employees were preoccupied with organising data, whispering slanders about their superiors in cheap taverns. The baker fretted over the mixing ratio of Canarisa wheat and Barta barley. Schoolchildren glared at one another, debating whether to reveal their test scores. It was a life that felt like a 3D rendering of “''Pax Tytaniana''<ref name="ftn15">“Peace of Tytania” (タイタニアの平和) is pronounced “Pax Tytaniana”.</ref>”.

As one ascended the social strata, the superficial calm began to peel away like thin plating. The heads of the countless departments and divisions, while wary of informants and eavesdroppers, could not help but converse with those they deemed trustworthy. They simply could not endure carrying their anxieties alone.

“Could it be that he is truly ill? Or perhaps…”

“What is it? Out with it.”

“Or perhaps… maybe he has already passed away, and Duke Idris is keeping the mourning a secret…”

“You idiot, don’t say such reckless things!”

“You were the one who told me to say it!”

They were on the verge of a scuffle, but at the sight of the Tytania guardsmen’s uniforms, everyone hurriedly sat back down in their chairs, tilting their mugs to hide their faces.

They still enjoyed a carefree status. If every minor offence were met with a purge, society would cease to function. Regardless of who emerged victorious, tax collection and various public services had to be carried out without fail. The people referred to as “petty officials” were, it seemed, indispensable in any era and any nation.