MaruMA:Volume09:Chapter 8

Chapter 8

Lord Weller throws down the soldier on his shoulder and releases the other man he had dragged in with his left hand. The army regulation coat is stained pitch black from the shoulder to the chest. He likely got splashed by the blood of several people. There's some white substance stuck on the unsheathed sword. It's fat.

I didn’t want to look at him, but I instinctively turn around out of concern for the wounded.

They’re both wearing the yellow and light blue Shou Shimaron army uniform. One was chopped on the back, the other had a deep stomach wound. They're not even crying out.

“… Are they dead?”

“No, both are still alive.”

Wolfram squats down, pressing his fingers to their necks before replying.

Finally, I find my voice to continue, “Are they going to die?! Hey!”

I kick aside the chair and step in between the two men, carefully touching the young soldier. His body is unnaturally cold.

“I saved the soldiers who were abandoned outside the gate, but there's still conflict out front. Although the guards are putting up a good fight, the overwhelming numbers aren't in our favor. What's happening, king of Shou Shimaron? Who are those people? What is the meaning of all this?”

“Who are you?!”

Saralegui steps in politely.

“It’s okay, Storob. He is the ambassador from Dai Shimaron.”

I am using only my ears to listen in on Lord Weller’s interrogation of Saralegui. My gaze never moved away from the soldier before me, and my fingers are slowly drawn towards the wound on his stomach.

“I was wondering who it was. Turns out it’s His Royal Highness Berard’s new favorite, Lord Weller. As you can see, there are the kings from two countries in this room so I was hoping you would show at least the most basic manners when entering, but I suppose it's pointless to speak of this now.”

“You are correct, it is pointless now.”

While only vaguely listening to their duel of words in a small corner of my brain, I put my hand on the casualty's body before me. The tip of my pointer finger reaches the open wound. My white fingernail is dyed red and my finger touches unmoving flesh. A wave of stimuli like an electric current darts through my body and the voices in the room start becoming a little distant.

“I come to the capital under His Royal Highness's orders only to find that the king has left and the entire castle is empty. When I finally catch up after intending to rush all the way to the port, I find the hotel surrounded by swords and spears. And by soldiers wearing the Shou Shimaron uniform. The attackers and defenders are all in the same uniform… Your Majesty Saralegui, I would like to hear your explanation. I am bound by duty to report this to His Royal Highness.”

“It is as you see, Lord Weller. This in an internal conflict, on a very small scale. They are against my diplomatic plans and are trying to prevent my departure to Seisakoku using extreme tactics. That is why they are all wearing the same uniform. They're all Shou Shimaron soldiers.”

“Then, Your Majesty Saralegui, is the king of Small Shimaron ignoring the internal conflict here and leaving the country?”

“I didn’t think that he would care so much about such trivial matters in another country, His Royal Highness Berard really is an extremely generous man!”

Saralegui says in a theatrical tone.

“O Ambassador from Dai Shimaron, I ask you not to worry. The fact that the soldiers would take the opportunity to revolt today was exactly what we had predicted! In fact, this is an excellent opportunity to instantly dispose of the rebel group that had to stay hidden because it was too small.”

Saralegui steps lightly to the window, peeking downwards out through the glass. But then he returns to his usual second in the next second! Goes to show that his exaggerated attitude was just a hoax.

“After the battle dies down, let’s leave. We’ve long ago prepared a secret tunnel in anticipation of these circumstances.”

“Secret tunnel?”

“One made especially for royalty.”

“Looks like I’ll be tagging along as well.”

I unconsciously turn to the speaker. Who is this ‘I’?

Saralegui reveals an elegant smile like a young girl’s, then says something completely contradicting his smile.

“Is that His Royal Highness Berard II’s order as well?”

“That’s right. Whenever there is a suspicion of improper conduct, Dai Shimaron has a duty to oversee Shou Shimaron. You should be well aware of this, Your Majesty Saralegui.”

“What a bother.” The boy king sighs in exasperation, lightly shrugging his slender shoulders and arms. He cocks his head slightly, and the pale golden hair originally gathered around his neck instantly floats down. “You plan on boarding my ship, don’t you?”

By now I feel as though his voice is getting further and further away, and my head has become real dizzy. Even my consciousness is beginning to blur.

A dull pain travels up from the tips of my fingers to my wrist, then to my arm. It spreads past my shoulder joints and branches out to the rest of my body, following my blood vessels to my brain, to my legs, to my heart…

“What are you doing?!”

Suddenly I feel a strong impact. Wolfram yells in a high voice that's almost a scream and he grabs my shoulders, shaking me violently.

"Yuuri, you! What stupid thing are you doing now… Did you try to heal these two?!"

"That's not… stupid."

Like I've successfully done countless times before, I just wanted to stop the bleeding a bit.

"Has the bleeding stopped? But anyway, you, you showed me how to do this before…"

My tongue feels clumsy, my words slurring as though I’m drunk. When my hand is forcefully pulled away from the soldier’s body, not only am I unable to squat down myself, I practically fall backwards as though having slipped.

“How many times have I told you, it’s very dangerous to use maryoku on human land! How are you, does it hurt anywhere?”

"I forgot about-… Ah, I'm dizzy. Wait a sec. I'm not in pain anymore. It's just, um, I'm dizzy. If you just give me a minute, I'll, get better, soon."

Truth is, it was a struggle just to talk. I lean the back of my head on Wolfram’s chest, desperately trying to suppress the pain under my eyes. That pain is like the ache you get before a cold and a fever, it’s agonizing just trying to move a finger.

My half-assed maryoku can't save even one of them? Just like someone said a long time ago, magic isn't everything. I stare at the beautifully embroidered, silver wallpaper as I contemplated that. I can hear the faint clashing of metal and the yells of the soldiers outside the building.

In front of my hovering gaze is a figure so familiar I wanted to cry.

It’s Conrad.

He creases the scarred eyebrow slightly, looking at me as though he wants to say something, yet hesitating. Although I couldn't hear his voice, his lips formed a word I'd heard so many times I got sick of it.

Yuuri.

Having lost my sense of self-control, I do my best to lift my hand, heavy as a stone--

Who cares what color his clothes are!

The color of his clothes doesn’t matter at all!

Conrad's knee moved forward and his right foot lifted off the ground, but something bright grey immediately blocks my line of vision, and I can no longer see his silver-flecked irises.

The piercing sound of metal then reverberates throughout the room, flying sparks disappearing behind the table, where the light cannot reach. My mind is functioning at a lower capacity than normal, so I can’t understand what’s happening, and it takes me a long time to realize that those are the sounds of battle. Using his unsheathed sword to parry the first attack, Gunter leaps backwards. The bright grey thing that had blocked my view was his back.

“If you take even one step closer to His Majesty, I will cut you down.”

“Are you serious, Günter?”

Right now, all I can hear is Conrad’s faintly wavering voice and the sound of blades changing direction. Lord von Christ’s long hair slides down to his upper arm from his shoulders.

“You dare deny that you are the dog of the opposition? For all we know, you are the assassin Dai Shimaron sent to kill His Majesty the Maou and set back the mazoku!”

“I had no idea Shin Makoku’s envoy would be here.”

“Who would believe the words of a traitor like you!”

Günter’s movement as he dashes forth follows the wind back down to where I am, quick and so sharp it almost cuts my cheek.

“You are no longer a member of Shin Makoku! Completely different from us, who’ve sworn our loyalty to the Maou!”

“Günter, even so, I have no reason to cross swords with you-”

“I do!”

A strange attack that thrusts from the bottom upwards cuts off the tip of Conrad's sword.

Stop, Günter. That isn't something for you to do.

Come to think of it, I have never seen this royal instructor hold a sword. I know he specializes in maryoku and IQ, but how are his fighting skills? Faced with Conrad, a sword master for eighty years, would he be killed for his thoughtless provocation?

“… Stop… Stop them, Wolf. Won’t it be bad if he gets hurt on human soil? Damn, why won’t my head stop spinning…”

“Who are you saying will get hurt? Conrart?”

“I mean both of them, but it really is rare to see Günter use a sword.”

I raise the head I was resting on Wolfram’s chest and try to break free from his grasp. If I can’t stand, I’ll walk over there on my knees or crawl there. I must stop this battle before either one of them gets hurt.

"If they fight seriously," Wolfram notices what I'm trying to do, supporting me with both hands as he says, "Then they'll probably be evenly matched or the one at a disadvantage will be Conrart."

“What?”

“Don't move yet. It's fine, so just let them fight it out.”

“But Günter can’t use maryoku here, right?! So you’re saying that on sword skills alone they are completely evenly matched? And hey, you, the other one is your brother, right?!”

With a strangely relaxed expression, Wolfram says something terrifying.

“If you weren't lying here exhausted, I'd want to take his place. I think Gurrier feels the same way I do.”

“Take… Take whose place!”

“Aren’t you the same? If you don’t whack him two or three times, you’ll never be satisfied.”

Two or three times with a baseball bat.

“… He’ll probably get grievously hurt.”

What's the point of even me thinking such scary thoughts?

Saralegui, on the other hand, is still leaning against the window pane, looking at Günter and Lord Weller with interest. There is no confusion or disdain in his cool gaze.

I immediately pull my gaze away from the boy king and back to my men because there’s a cringe-worthy sound of clashing metal coming from the battle.

The curtain-less windows shine in the morning light and the blades gleam silver. From my position, it’s easier to follow the path of the light than the actual movements of the sword.

“I didn’t teach you everything I know just so you can wear this uniform!”

I’m jolted back to reality by Gunter’s words of agony.

I forgot. Lord von Christ was an educator who had many students. He said he was not an officer, so is his profession treated as part of the military? Even though the current situation is so tense, just imagining him as a demon trainer in the past makes my mouth twist into a smile.

Wolfram, who is long used to battles, mumbles the moves they're using while Lord Weller takes the opportunity to parry aside Günter's sword. Although it has nothing to do with me, I still start worrying if there is also a difference in the strength of the weapons themselves.

“Then why did you raise soldiers? Is it so they could die gloriously on the battlefield?”

Lord Weller’s voice is colder than the dueling blades. On the other hand, Günter’s words seem more agitated, the emotions displayed by both sides feel completely different.

"I raised them to live, loyal to the country, Shinou, and the Maou who acts as his proxy, until the very end…"

"Many of them have likely ended up exactly as you wished."

Suddenly there's a short and sharp 'clack' of impact. Compared to the clanging of metal as they went at each other, them clashing together right now is much more dangerous. Because their power had nowhere to go, it's directly travelling to their weapons and arms.

Lord Weller curves the corners of his lips. I don’t know if he’s smiling or not. Can’t read him at all.

“Don’t be too greedy.”

“Why… I taught you to be His Majesty's sword, to become a shield.”

On the other hand, all I can see of Günter is his back. That shiny light grey robe of his is floating gracefully with every move of the BATTLE. Absentmindedly watching that and the path of his blade is like watching a sword dance.

The two long swords crossing together between them make a faint sound of friction. Their swords connect near the sturdy hilts, and the two of them are so close together their faces are almost touching.

“… You should stay by the Maou’s side.”

“I give those words back to you, every one, because only the most faithful of men can accomplish it.”

Lord Weller’s light brown eyes darken, then he forces open the eyelids that were going to close.

Then he pushes the part of his hilt that juts out into his opponent's properly sharpened blade, causing it to sink in, and then quickly twists it. He's not using strength, but a snap of his wrists.

At that moment there’s the sound of glass shattering, instantly reverberating the air in the room.

Günter’s sword, having been broken at the base, loses its luster and falls to the ground.

“Looks like that is not a weapon made for war. And also, Your Excellency the Royal Instructor… Lord von Christ, you don’t seem accustomed to killing people.”

A cold sweat has broken out on my palms. I grip my fist so tightly, my nails leave marks. With a lot of strength. With so much strength it hurts.

“Ah!”

Slowly, I regain strength in my legs. Putting my palms on my trembling knees, I force myself up. Finally, success!

When I turn to face them, Günter, with just the sword grip in his hand, had just used his hilt to deflect Lord Weller's sword.

“That’s enough!”

I move before Wolfram can grab my clothes, rushing in between the two men. I throw my arms open wide, with my back facing Günter. I know who I should be standing in front of now, who I should be protecting. What I’m doing is right, absolutely not wrong.

“Your Majesty!”

Maybe it's because he said it without thinking, but even Lord Weller himself looks surprised. As he frantically tries to pull his sword back, he loses his balance and staggers exaggeratedly.

“You've gotten it all off your chest already, haven't you?”

“Your Majesty, have you any idea how dangerous that was? You need not protect me! In the middle of a heated battle, please don’t…”

“Stop talking!”

The hand that was reaching for my shoulder is suddenly pulled back.

“You started this, so don’t lecture me self-importantly, Günter!”

“Y-yes, my lord.”

“And stop arguing in front of me, looking even more childish than I do! For someone long over a hundred years old, you’re still so childish! And where do you think this is?! This is the location of a summit between the leaders of two countries! Look at Saralegui, so mature and serious. Do you know how much older you are than him?”

“I’m… very sorry… Your Majesty.”

Günter sags his shoulders and apologizes, while beside him Lord Weller sheathes his sword, making a hearty ‘ke-chang’ sound.

And then, I stand facing him, hiding my emotions deep within my heart before raising my head to look at him.

“My subordinate has done something outrageously rude towards you, Big Shimaron's ambassador. There is no excuse. I apologize.”

“… We were just playing around. Please don’t mind.”

After our awkward exchange, Saralegui claps his hands thrice. The sound echoes around the high ceiling, then sinks downwards.

"You've shown me something terribly interesting. Although, I have no idea what went on between the teacher and student." He walks over to me slowly, then grabs my wrist with his slender fingers. "I'd rather you didn't get the important friend I just gained caught in the middle. I'm evacuating now. Yuuri as well. If you have no intention of protecting your king, go ahead and continue messing around here."

“W-wait a second, Sara!”

“Yuuri, let’s go. This is a secret tunnel, doesn’t that sound exciting? I always wanted to take this kind of tunnel as a kid, but the old butler wouldn’t let me adventure around the tunnels in the castle.”

“… You even had a butler?”

As expected of a natural born prince, I didn’t even have a babysitter. Before I can voice my opinions as a commoner, Saralegui grabs my hand and jumps into the fireplace.

“Eh, w-w-w-w-what?! A Star Tour without water?!”

“Careful, Yuuri, don’t bite your tongue now.”

“Haat ih dah theh aaah (What is down there aaah), uyaaaaey--!”

We slip down a long slide in the darkness. My butt hurts, and because friction creates heat, it feels like it’s burning to a crisp. Instead of calling it a secret tunnel, it’d probably be better to say it’s a SECRET roller coaster.

The tunnel suddenly reaches an end, and we’re tossed into the air before landing onto our tailbones on the dusty ground. The air here smells musty, but it isn’t unbearable. And then my companions, who seem to have followed us, fall on top of me one by one.

"Nugha", "Mugha", "Mogha", "Kagha" Hyakuman Goku.

“That hurts! Get off! Get off now!”

The small animals hiding in the darkness squeak as they make their speedy escape. Before my eyes can get used to the darkness, I use my hand as a substitute to feel my way around, and when I touch the ground, I find and pick up a smooth and dry sphere.

"Someone light a- hyaa!"

A lit torch approaches and I realize that the thing in my hand is an old dry skull.

“H-h-h-he’s dead, so we’re facing a deadly area ahead! W-wait, Saralegui, this is the way, right?! You aren’t Indiana Jones, are you?”

“Of course it’s right. This used to be a kitchen, that’s probably leftovers.”

I shouldn't have asked. Then, this is a baboon. It's probably a baboon. No matter how much of a gourmet they were, no one would use human bones to make a soup. Or maybe this guy is a member of the kotsuchizoku and we can use his 'bone-epathy'</ref>Yuuri just smashes the word for bone (hone) onto the English word from telepathy.</ref> to contact home.

So I gather my guts and grab its lower jaw, making it clack and trying to leave a message.

“Big brother, it's time. I mean, BROTHER, we’re currently underground. We, who believe in ancient creatures of legend, are now in an old abandoned tunnel, and headed deeper inwards.”

No reply, guess it’s just a normal skull, after all.

The passionate Royal Instructor who’s always keen to impart his wisdom, calmly explains.

“Your Majesty, that’s not a kotsuchizoku. Although they particularly enjoy being buried or getting bleached in the sun, they extremely hate underground passageways with cobwebs.”

“Aiya!”

The cobwebs that the kochi, otherwise known as the kotsuchizoku, hate are now tangled in my hair.

“Yuuri, this way!”

An excited Saralegui waves at me from ahead. It took me forever to get used to the darkness, and now I can vaguely see his pale skin.

While Günter accidentally trips and has to be caught by someone in front, Lord Weller approaches me from behind. He looks hesitant, and after a moment he speaks to me in an overly formal and distant tone. His face is still trained forward, though.

“Have you been well?”

Maybe he thinks that speaking softly can avoid the others overhearing, but I too face the sparkling distance, which may be the exit, instead of looking his way.

“Yeah.”

“His Majesty Berard IV is also very concerned about you.”

“That’s right~ He’s your ‘Your Majesty’, right?”

“After all, the parting that time in the desert was rather disconcerting.”

“Please pass on my apologies, for making him worry.”

This is when Saralegui turns back again.

“Yuuri! It’s the exit, see, I was right!”

The person waving at me, the king of Shou Shimaron, Saralegui, and the Sigourney Weaver with the childish voice, otherwise known as His Majesty Berard IV of Dai Shimaron, are true rivals. Saralegui must escape from Dai Shimaron’s control, and His Majesty Berard IV needs to defeat his uncle. If someone were to ask me who I wanna cheer on, for now I’ll definitely say Saralegui.

“Are you getting along well?”

“Yeah.”

“Is that so? But he is-”

Conrad abruptly closes his mouth.

Because having noticed that we were whispering to each other, Günter is running our way, hair flying everywhere.

---

Under the almost-noon sun, the outside light is extremely piercing to the eyes. When we push past what looks like a manhole, we come to the back of a little hunter’s cottage in a forest. Thank goodness for the long and winding underground tunnel. We’ve come such a long way we can’t even hear the voices of the soldiers.

Storob and another Shou Shimaron soldier release the horses that were previously tied together. Saralegui looks at the only one simple carriage and asks, “Can you ride a horse?”

His words bring back painful memories, and I heave a deep sigh.

“Well I can ride, but not at a gallop.”

“Same here, then let’s take my carriage. It’s slower than riding on horseback, but it’s safer.”

“Thanks. But if I’m alone, my companions will worry… Günter, over here! Can they get on the carriage too?”

“Of course. Even if we rode straight to the harbor, it would take an entire day. We can’t rest on horseback, but we can take a breather in a carriage. Oh, that reminds me.”

Since Storob is occupied, I take his place and help Saralegui onto the carriage. He weighs as much as a kid. Seems like the bona fide prince is delicate in every way.

“Will Lord Weller ride with us as well? Weren't he and the lot of you close?”

Crap, he found out.

“Ah, but—”

I glare at Günter as if to say 'it was all your fault!'. Although, a NATURAL BORN hothead like myself can't really judge other people.

"Even when you put him on a horse, he's amazing."

"I see. He's reliable, huh?"

His reply seems to be insinuating something.

"By the way, does he... have a brother that looks a lot like him?"

I don’t know what Saralegui is trying to find out, so I can only pretend not to hear him. Thankfully he doesn’t ask again.

Was the important part ‘looks a lot like him’?

If he meant a brother who is ‘unexpectedly similar’, then we just so happen to have one screwing up his pretty boy face as he stares daggers at us.

Back to Chapter 7

Return to MA Series

Forward to Chapter 9

References

−