AN:
It's really heart warming to see people still follow this fic. Thank you so much for the reviews. I appreciate constructive criticisms so that I can improve in some ways. :D I will try to update every week. :)
Please use this link to view image references since FF doesn't allow mid chapter images. Please also be reminded that all the photos in the pinterest link are NOT mine. All the credits goes to their original owners because they made really amazing photos that I can use for inspiration.
The board contains images of how I imagine Branwen's looks, Her Clothes etc. I will be continuously updating this together with the fic.
/leiiiriuuki/god-save-our-queen-story-board/
Disclaimer: I do not own Kyou Kara Maou and any of its characters. This story is made solely because I can't get enough of Conrart and Yuuri.
If you fall in love with an island girl Van der Volcano will erupt.
Even if she can't cross the ocean with you,
Look up and you'll see the same moon in the sky.
Oh this, this is the dream isle Van Van Van der Veer
Come just once and you'll never forget it (keep beat with clapping)
That's the Van der Veer Marching Song, #1. Josak sang through the mist as they reached the island and walked the trail to the nearest rest area. The trail is stiff and it's been a long time since Yuuri climbed a mountain too. She got really excited as they got to the foot of the trail and ran towards it. You could hear the sounds of concern as she ran excitedly to the start of the trail.
"Want to race to the top?" Yuuri urged them giggling excitedly at the trail. It was only Josak who accepted the challenge.
"Well well, shall we, little lady? I won't go easy on you." Josak smirked back at her and they began to ease their way up the trail. He is a fast climber of course. But she's more nimble than him and kept the lead. She kept looking back at the people at the bottom to see Conrart and Wolfram easing their way up as well. Of course while keeping an eye on Josak who is currently engaged in their little competition. "Not bad, little lady!" Josak exclaimed as they near the top. Just a little more. Yuuri reached her good hand for the next supposed good rock then the unexpected happened. The rock crumbled to her grip.
Yuuri's POV
I hear their worried cries as I close my eyes expecting to meet my end when a hand grabs mine just in time.
"Grab on! Be careful" I looked up at the top of the cliff. It was Josak. How did he get up there so fast? He must have been letting me lead on purpose. (sweat drop) But I have to admit, if not for his quick reflexes, I would have fallen to my death. He pulled me up and led me away from the cliff while we waited for the other two. A few moments later, we saw their heads popping to view followed by their worried looks.
"Are you alright Yuuri? You about given both Wolfram and I a heart attack." Conrart said with a frown.
"Teheheh, I guess accidents do happen. Thank you Josak and sorry for worrying you guys." I giggled apologetically and eyed each of them. Then we resumed our walk to the rest area.
Normal POV
As soon as they got to the rest area, the two older men talked with the owner and asked to be given a room so that they could rest. They got two rooms. One has two bedrooms separated by a living area for Branwen and Wolfram and the other was a twin room which will be shared by Conrart and Josak. They each went to their rooms to freshen up. Wolfram, tired from their journey, immediately fell asleep in his. While Branwen took a shower and changed her clothes. After which, she went out to the courtyard to find Conrart and Jozak talking to the owner of the inn.
"Van der Veer is a volcanic island around a hundred kilometers in diameter, blessed with many hot springs and a sea rich in seafood. Its economy is based on tourism. From the islands I remember from my atlas, I'd say it's about the size of Eromanga in the Republic of Vanuatu—I have no idea if a hundred kilometers is big or small for an island. In any case, it's perfect for a resort." Yuuri said in her thoughts.
Conrart and Josak nonchalantly raise the white porcelain teacups to their lips, there are no signs of fatigue in their demeanor. Still holding her tray, the beautiful proprietress looks at the group, two men full of energy and a woman who sits cross legged comfortably on the chair while enjoying her tea after a bath. She started talking to them saying that the portable shrine for the festival will be held in the next mountain and not the one that they are in right now.
Branwen who was silently enjoying her tea and cookies looked up at Conrart with questioning eyes.
"Did we go here by mistake?" she asked.
Conrart sets his cup back on the saucer. Josak nods in support of his childhood friend and sinks his teeth into a charred-looking cookie, devoting himself to the task of replenishing his calories.
"I didn't think you'd be interested in a blazing portable shrine being rushed down the dormant volcano. What we're looking for is at the summit of this mountain, not the 'soul-stirring Fire Festival." He gathered.
Branwen nodded in understanding. The proprietress pales at the exchange of information asking if the group will really go up the mountain. Telling them that the spring on top of the mountain has been shut down for quite awhile now. She began stating that a few years ago, a red light fell from the sky into the pond and the spring boiled for three days.
When Branwe asked if it was a meteorite, the other lady said that it was a demon. You can really tell from her expression that she was afraid. She continued telling the tale of a man who tried to go there and he died while uttering the words " the face the face".
"Since then, nobody has tried to go into the spring," the hostess ended.
Yuuri's POV
I can't help but get a troubled look on my face as I listen to the hostess. But I kept quiet as I know that my retainers know what they are doing and where we are.
"Put your mind at rest, Ma'am. We are on a journey to exorcize that demon. Once we do, visitors will be able to enjoy the spring in peace and quiet again." Conrart assured the proprietor.
"...If you can actually manage to lay your hands on the sleeping silver." He directed his skepticism at me.
"Josak!" Conrart reprimanded.
"But it's true. Dozens of people have already been injured, haven't they? I can't guarantee that the young lady here's gonna come out of it unscathed," the Guard of the Inner Circle warns direly, and cackles like the Disney bunny at his own ill-portented words. "Well, don't worry 'bout it too much. If that happens we'll just tie you to the boat and drag you back home after us." he looked at me with that.
"Josak! Your rudeness is going too far!" Conrart was getting furious.
I immediately start clapping. I don't want them arguing about it. I just have to do what I have to do right? Get Morgif and go back to the covenant castle.
"It's fine you guys. So when do we leave?" I cut between the two.
Ahh I almost forgot! I turned to the mistress of the house and asked if she had a mirror. Which she happily got and passed to me. I got to look at the state of my hair and smiled. It's now shoulder length and doesn't support sudden splits. The trim's cleanly cut. What are you not good at? my godfather from another world? I smiled and nodded at my reflection.
Normal POV
Without moments of hesitation, Conrart, Josak and Branwen were already on their way to the spring. Upon arriving in the said waters, they spotted several squid boats and rode one to go further into the cave. A gigantic fish breaks the muddy surface of the pond. Now that it can lead a carefree existence with its archenemy gone, it seems to have evolved from a carp into a tuna.
They climb over the crude barricade to stand on the bank of the spring at the summit. The wall at the entrance holds countless scribbles. The red and yellow lines are completely meaningless to Branwen.
"What does all this writing mean?" She asked.
Josak reads in a monotone: "We were here hey hey hey, we are daredevils, yay."
The entrance continues right into a cave where rock teeth jut from both the walls and the ceiling. It's spacious and high enough that you don't feel any claustrophobia, but still exceptionally creepy because the light from outside can't reach within. They shine their torches to light their way leaving Conrart to maneuver the oars while Jozak holds the light. Dense steam from the heated water covers everything.
"Ow." Conrart presses against the back of his hand where he was splashed by hot water from the oars.
"Is it really that hot? This isn't a boiling water bath, is it?!" Branwen inquired as she leaned by the edge of the boat to feel the water. To her surprise, it's not that hot and she said that it's perfect for a nice warm bath. Then she turned to Conrart asking him if he was alright she saw that the skin on his hand was already scalded.
Nonetheless, she told them that there's nothing to worry about since the temperature is just right. Bringing her hand out of the water and shaking her hands, some of the water dripped to her pants. Suddenly she feels a sharp pain and numbness run simultaneously down her thigh, like it's been stabbed by a centipede. It must have been from the few drops of water after shaking her fingers.
"Uwah, ouch! That's hot, hot hot hot! That really feels like a shock! Like, like a jellyfish stung me—or no, a Portuguese man-of-war! Definitely a Portuguese man-of-war! But why was my hand okay? Why wasn't it hot when I touched it with my bare hand?" She tried to swallow the pain she felt because the boat was already rocking.
"Why was my hand fine when my thigh was a total disaster even though it's protected by my pants?" She thought to herself. Then she had an idea like an experiment. She took off her shoes and socks and let her feet feel the water. Nothing happened and she didn't feel any sting. It's still like water in a warm bath.
"This is a problem." Conrart said.
Branwen only tilted her head and asked "Why?"
"We came after receiving the news that the demon sword Morgif is here at the summit of this mountain. The local stories also seem to indicate that the demon of the spring is Morgif. So I'm afraid the special transformation of the hot water is its doing." Conrart explained.
"Huh, so it can do stuff like that? That's very demon sword-like." Yuuri said in awe and a light smile.
"This is no time for admiration. Remember the claim that only Her Majesty the Maou can carry Morgif? That's why you're not harmed when you touch the water. But Your Majesty's clothes are not a part of you, so they are not subject to the same immunity to attack. That's why they burned." Conrart explained further.
Branwen sat quietly at that. She's getting a bad feeling here. Then Josak speaks up saying that he sees glittering silver a few meters away. He rows along carefully, holding the torch in his left hand high. The hot spring demon that's been terrifying the locals is leaning submerged against the innermost wall of the cave. It sparkles in the reflected light—more of a flash than a glitter.
Yuuri's POV
My trusty baseball buddy starts off with an apology and says: "Please take off your clothes."
"Whaaaaaaat?!" I was startled at that.
"No, I mean, you will need to do so if you are to enter the hot water. The boat cannot go any further, and if you go into the water with your clothes on, they will actually harm you." he explained further.
"Oh, th-that's what you meant." anno etooo. How are we going to do this? My head hurts. Just imagine: I'm in a small row boat with two men and I have to strip naked to get into the hot water and get the sword. No matter how you look at it. It's all so…I don't know what to say. Please kill me now! But of course I needed to regain my composure.
"Haaii Haiii! Don't worry little lady, as much as I want to see your body again~, I won't do so unless I want to be chopped into pieces right here right now. You can rest assured" He covered his eyes with hands that have gaps visibly peeking and smirking at me teasingly.
"Josak." Conrart said coldy and eyed him dangerously, his eyes telling the other to thread carefully with his words.
I arched my brow at him though I'm visibly flustered, I'm not happy with his remarks and how sarcastic he is about it. "Enough both of you." I eyed both of them then focused on Josak smirking coolly. "Want to see me naked huh?" I eased my way towards him and held his right cheek lightly, teasing him as he had teased me. The expression on their faces are priceless! Conrart retains his calm facade but is utterly confused and Josak is visibly wide eyed flustered at the sudden touch; you can already see beads of sweat forming on his forehead and his adam's apple bobbing.
When I had my bit of fun, I pinched his face so hard that you get to see red pinch marks on his face. His eyes widened, still stunned. I raised my brow at him again and laughed. "Hahahahah! How do you like to be at the receiving end of that statement huh? Don't dream on it!" Both men gapped at the realization of the joke. Conrart tried his best not to chuckle at his close friend's predicament. Josak remained flushed and turned his head away.
"Alright. Enough with jokes and banters. Both of you turn to your backs and no peeking. You wouldn't wanna know the consequences otherwise. I just have to get Morgif and we'll return to the castle." I said sternly. This time they abided by my word, turned their backs on me without any other word. and I started undressing.
Aaaaall right then, one's gotta be decisive. I mean, come on, I did travel through the public bath to get here this time. Whether you're looking at it or hearing about it, not to mention being washed away with it. And besides, this is the hot spring of a dormant volcano island, certifiably good for your health. I turn my back to the two of them and gingerly stick my foot in.
"Please be careful. Watch your step and don't slip." Conrart said as I dismounted the boat. His back still turned against me.
The boat is stuck on a shallow spot where the water only comes up to my knees, but the bottom drops off sharply after that.
"Are you alright? Do you feel any numbness?" Conrart asked
"It's nice and hot. Special care is required if you have high blood pressure." I grinned at that.
Conrart smiles wryly and says in his usual warm, good-humored voice, "Are you planning to soak for a bit, then?" I really don't know why I know what kind of expression he makes even when had his back towards me.
"I will after I finish this job."
Near the sunken object in question, the water rises to about the level of my shoulders. It's now a pool rather than a bath. I bend my knees and sloooowly stretch out a hand, and just as the tips of my fingers might have grazed against metal—
"Gyah!"
"What's wrong?!"Both of them turned to me as I screamed at the top of my lungs. Thank kami that the water in this part is to my shoulders and our distance is about 6meters away.
It was probably just my imagination. I timidly reach out once more, trying not to look at the thing. But—
"Yeeargh! It bit me! It bit me! It felt like a fish mouth biting my finger—it definitely bit me!"
I leap back and peer into the water. Focusing, waiting for the waves to calm, my eyes catch sight of the silver glinting...sword...
"Waah, face! The face, the faaaaace!" So that's why! That's why the young man who looked directly at the demon is yelling 'the face! the face!' The thing sitting there is a sword with a face.
Even if I spend all my time on different things, I have played a few video games too. Stuff like Power Pro and Let's Create Our Own Pro Baseball Team, not to mention the Soccer version that Ken had me try. And of course I've played Dragon Quest and FF, the big RPG titles, like everybody else. So I've seen quite a few swords with faces, the special weapons that raise character abilities to their max levels. A lot of them have weird carvings, like hilts decorated to look like demons' faces. And I've fought vampires with them too, though this was before I became Maou. Aaah, that was on the old PS. But this thing!
"I wasn't told about this! Nobody told me that the sword is this dangerous! This thing's cursed for sure! And anybody who touches it will be cursed too!" I said hysterically.
This sword's face is at the base of the blade rather than the hilt, and it's so realistic that it doesn't look carved. It's not like one of those rough, grim demons or monsters you see so often, either. It's eerie and unpleasant and somehow miserable-looking, as sinister and baleful as Munch's scream.
"No way am I touching that, it's like the bad guy from the Scream! It's even got tilted eyebrows!" I'm about to start crying here.
"Hold on, Your Majesty, calm down." Conrart tried to coax me but to no avail. I'm very emotional right now.
"But it bit me, it bit my index finger! 'Cause it's got a mug that looks like one of those face-shaped smears you see on walls! Aaagh, I can't touch something like that, I'm not the kind of heroine that can carry something like that!"
"All right, Branwen, it's okay if you can't, we'll think of something else. Calm down, walk slowly back to the boat." I grip the stone at my chest and force myself to take several calming breaths, swallow.
Josak gestures like he's singing. "Come back, Your Majesty, you don't have to put yourself in danger. Hurry back, the little foot soldiers will cross the scary bridge for you."
My teeth are clenched so tightly that my throat feels constricted. I can't swallow the ugly emotions I'm trying to force back, and they scorch my chest.
"...Are you saying that I'm being irresponsible?"
"Yuuri, it's okay, leave it." Conrart tried to mediate between Josak and I.
"Are you calling me irresponsible?!"
Seated on the edge of the tiny craft, Josak sweeps his orange hair up and lets it fall. Though this man is now a part of my guard, a smile particular to intelligent animals surfaces on his face. A beast's smile: clever and strong, yet devoid of kindness.
"I'm not saying anything of the sort, Your Majesty. Please hurry back. Let's say good-bye to this place as soon as we can."
"...What do you know?"
"Yuuri, over here..." Conrart said with a stretched hand.
"What the hell do you know?!"
I always think I'm being childish. And I always tell myself to be more adult. If I could have parried with a smile, my life until now would have been so much easier. The lions-blue stone is the same temperature as my skin. Gripping it, I spit my words down at the water as if my enemy were inside.
"I'm just an ordinary senior high student, and I've lived an ordinary life for fifteen years. Then I'm summoned to this dream world and I suddenly become the Maou! This demon sword, it's like a ghost or a phantom, and I never knew something like that could exist! So now I'm going to be criticized and scorned for being afraid?! Anyone would be scared half to death if they saw something like that! If this sword is so powerful, why don't you try giving it to a hero or champion or something? None of them would use something that disgusting! So why do I have to be the one?!"
The stone pulses like a living heart. Though of course that's impossible. I don't know why I was being emotional. Back on earth I mostly made sure to keep a calm mind. But I'm at my limit now.
"You have no idea how I feel!" I stared angrily at the ginger head.
Conrart still holds out his hand to me pleadingly. The other man shrugs.
"No, I don't got any idea. How Your Majesty spent your childhood, what kind of a person you are—I don't know about any of that. I have no idea what your feelings are or what you're thinking. Our lot is to obey without complaint, no matter what kind of a person becomes Maou. The soldiers and people and children, we can only believe in our ruler and obey." The orange head stared at me and I stared at him back in anger.
I sigh. Conrart's going to plunge in after me if I delay any longer. Staring down at my toes, I took a deep breath to calm myself and walk slowly back to the boat. This signaled the two to turn their backs at me again as I swam towards the boat. Conrart turned to me with his eyes closed and helped me up. I dressed myself again and we rowed to shore. No one uttered a word until we reached the inn where we left Wolfram.
Normal POV
Branwen made her way back to the room that she shared with Wolfram. She felt dejected and afraid. But she knew there was no way out of this. The way she acted earlier was uncharacteristic too. She became really emotional and she knew that herself.
She found Wolfram sitting in the living room, his back against the cabin wall, while holding Gunter's diary.. Frankly, she was in no mood to talk with anyone and just wanted to be left alone; she pretended not to see Wolfram and continued her way to the door of her designated room. However as she was going to open the door to her bedroom the blond spoke to her.
"Why didn't you come back with it?" It was the first thing that came from his mouth after resting the whole afternoon.
"...It's just out of my grasp." Branwen replied. She knew that there was no way this stubborn brat would let her be alone without getting his answers so she made her way to the window sill and looked at the night sky awaiting further inquiries.
"Spending the night here would probably be a lot more relaxing than returning to the city, crammed as it is with tourists. Conrart and Josak go out to bespeak another twin room. When we set out from Shinma Kingdom, the plans were to stay at the highest-class hotel in Van der Veer. If we hadn't encountered those pirates on the way, I would still have been in the midst of my wild merrymaking as Young Lady Mitsuemon." She said to herself still waiting for the boy to speak.
"What was it like? How long and wide was the blade? Was it shining with sublime grace and manliness?" She was not wrong and his queries started.
The image of Morgif flashes across the back of her head and says that it was the opposite of grace and manliness.. The blonde argued that it was the mightiest sword in the world, and only obeys the Maou. He also motioned her to look and read at what Günter wrote in his diary. Only to be rebutted by Branwen saying that she can't read it anyway so why bother. She tumbled into the chair parallel to where Wolfram was sitting and sat down and stared at the ceiling.
"You know, I was thinking that since it's a king's sword, it would have a hilt with gaudy gold ornamentation or fine platinum craftsmanship, a guard with fretwork that could move an artisan to tears, stuff like that. And the haft-end would have a gemstone inserted—like a typical king's sword. But actually? It had a face that...a face that scares me just thinking about it, and even though I'm supposed to carry it and become its master, it b-b-bit my finger!" Branwen explained the encounter she had with the sword. Then the boy assumed that the demon sword was hungry and therefore bit her finger. Since it's supposedly obedient to the Maou.
Branwen got skeptical at that. It was metal and how could it feel hunger? She argued. Only to be rebutted by Wolfram again by reading a paragraph on the book he is holding. " Morgif has the power to absorb human life and needs a supply of energy to be invoked."
"Does that mean that it k...kills people?! Wouldn't that make Melgib a vampire sword?" Yuuri asked
"Weren't you listening when he explained at the castle? It doesn't always kill, necessarily, but...what are you panicking about, Branwen? You're not thinking of yourself as a Human again, are you? You know what kind of people they are. Even though we saved their lives, they locked us up because we're Mazoku. Aagh, just thinking about it makes me angry." Said Wolfram closing the book he was holding and slouching his back to the couch.
"...I have nothing to say to such ingratitude." Yuuri said.
Even after seeing that Branwen was a bit dejected, Wolfram still made a decision that they can't return to the castle without Morgif. He then gave Yuuri a reassuring smile and said that he will go with her tomorrow to retrieve the sword.
"He can't give me any real help even if he comes with me. Even Conrart, who could make short work of any sword master, couldn't move a finger to help me." Yuuri silently and sadly thought to herself. Wolfram, indifferent to her private waffling folded his arms on his chest and added:
"Since you're a total wimp, I'll just have to go with you" He said half smiling.
"Stop calling me a wimp!" She glared at him and then thought again for a while and grinned.
"Ah. The selfish prince with the angelic features and clear emerald eyes that remind you of the bottom of a lake. Abbreviate half-ironically, and you get a selfish pooh. Wolfram always goes right to the point. He throws himself straight into any challenge. He bores into both my mitt and my chest, but it's kinder and gentler than a lie." She said in her head.
"What? What are you grinning about?" said the blond
"...I was just thinking, it's been a while." Yuuri let out a sigh.
"What has?" Wolfram asked.
"You, calling me a wimp." Then she let out a laugh.
Wolfram explained that it's because she left the country, her people and her land to the care of others. He was pertaining to the time when Yuuri went back to Earth after being crowned. Telling her that she was a wimp and that there is nothing wrong with calling a wimp a wimp.
Branwen was lost in thoughts again because of his words. She may be acting tough but she knows that there is weakness in her. Telling herself that she might actually be a wimp. But it has to change now she thought. She wasn't gonna give up after just one try right? This was just the same as any other competitions that she has gone through. There will always be challenges along the way but it's up to you if you are just going to leave things hanging or not. After deciding on what to do she turned to Wolfram and thanked him.
The blond was confused with the sudden exchange between him and his queen. He asked him what she was thankful for but was only answered with an "I don't know it just came to me anyway" Wolfram was angered by the vague answer and said:
"How could you say that so flippantly? Why did I have to come with you on this horrendous journey anyway?—have you really, seriously thought about it at all? Because you proposed to me! Now I have to keep an eye on you so nothing happens to you on your journey! So you don't get involved with the wrong set or end up being burdened with feelings that you can't requite!"
Branwen was at a loss with that sudden outrage. She totally forgot about the engagement. The look on her face says it all and the little prince perked up and asked if she had really forgotten about it. Yuuri instinctively put both of her arms up in defeat. Thinking that this was the perfect opportunity to turn the situation around and to finally end the confusion of being engaged to this little lord brat, she began with suggesting that she dumps Wolfram and calling it quits. Only to be greeted by "Don't you dare! It would be a blow to my self-respect" Onto the next suggestion: Asking Wolfram just to reject her instead. Since she thinks that her pride can handle it and that she's in the wrong for doing stupid things without knowing the repercussions of her actions. (being the unusual policies of this world)
"I can't do that!" Was the only she heard from the boy before he got up to his feet and walked straight to his bedroom without looking back.
"Geeezz, what's with that prick?! I only want to straighten things out." Yuuri muttered and pouted to herself.
A moment later, she heard a knock on their door telling them that it's dinner time. She half dragged Wolfram to the dining area since he was still sulking from the conversation they had earlier. Everybody ate in silence while listening to the hostess talk about the festival that's going-on on the other side of the mountain. She told them that the grand finale is at the arena near the harbor tomorrow evening, and that they will certainly regret it if they miss it.
Wolfram, who has no interest in human festivities, goes to bed immediately after finishing his wine. With nothing better to do, Yuuri also stood up and admired the night sky a short distance away from the cabin. "It would be a perfect setting for a violin recital,'' she said to herself. After a while, she also retired to her bedroom to rest, walking past the other two male companions that were still sitting in the outdoor dining area, although no words transpired among them, it was obvious that both were waiting for her to get back before they went to their respective rooms.
Yuuri's POV
I get up in the middle of the night because I'm parched, but there's no water left in the pitcher. I open the closet door to get my coat and fetch some water.
"...Of course I wouldn't..." I hear through the thin wall separating us from the neighboring room.
"In the end my loyalty is to the kingdom. I will obey Her Majesty's commands, however unreasonable. You of all people should know that. I just wanted to know our new queen a little bit more, about what sort of a person she is."
"So you were testing her." That's Conrart. There's the sound of a glass being set down on the table. I immediately cowered down and hid as to not be seen. I didn't mean to eavesdrop but I'm already here anyway. I listened intently to their conversation.
"Don't make it sound like it was such a big deal. I just want to be prepared, s'all. If this new little lady is gonna be like the last Maou, we soldiers need to resign ourselves. Resign ourselves to going to our deaths without a word, that is. Don't misunderstand me. I don't hate Lady Cäli, not at all—on the contrary, I love her more dearly than my own parents. But she was wrong. She didn't try to look at it all with her own eyes. That's why I want to know what the next era is going to be like, to be steeled for it."
"That's why I said—"
"It's true for you too, isn't it? How many of your soldiers did you lose? How many of your friends were snatched away? If Lady Cäli had made her own decisions instead of leaving everything to Stoffel, maybe even Julia would still be..."
"Josak!" Conrart, who rarely even raises his voice, slaps the table with obvious irritation. Julia I thought to myself.
"...From this point forward, if you say or do anything to mislead Her Majesty, I will relieve you of your duties."
"Sorry, Lord Weller, Your Excellency does not have that authority. If you want to give me orders, then you'd better get your command back, 'cause you're hardly gonna spend the rest of your life babysitting Her Majesty the new Maou, are you?"
"With Her Majesty's permission, that is exactly what I intend to do."
"You've gotta be joking! Why would you give yourself up to that?! Are you sure you're not just deluded by her cuteness?! Don't tell me the man once called the Lion of Ruttenberg has lost his fangs..."
Conrart cuts Josak off with that eloquent smile I can see so clearly. Lion of Ruttenberg. Julia.. I repeated these unfamiliar words and people in my mind.
"Now you're dredging up the long-dead past."
"Stop being so humble. Oh yeah, you gave that to the little lady, huh? If young general Grantz saw it, it'd set his gray matter a-boiling."
I wonder how to connect all of them: Adelbert von Grantz, Julia, Lion of Ruttenberg. I move softly away from the wall, and find my feet go back to my room. With a new resolve I stole a lamp from my bedside table and went out of the cabin. I can see the illuminated temple clearly from the mountain path. It's red and swaying quite beautifully.
"Voices swell into a roar, and the blazing shrine begins its downward dash with a train of torches following behind. The annual ceremony seeks to calm God's fury and hold back further volcanic activity by reproducing the eruption that occurred two hundred years ago. Up until a hundred years ago they would offer up innocent girls, and countless lives were sacrificed that way." I recalled what the host was telling us a while ago.
All is noise and tumult on the next mountain, but I stand alone at the summit of this one. I got dressed up for the cave bathhouse in the middle of the night. I gathered the necessities and walked to the spring. Only the graffiti welcomed me. We were here, hey hey hey. I'm here too, and this is my second time. I'm all alone this time.
"...So what does 'Lion of Ruttenberg' mean, anyway?" Someone like that believes in me. I should really get my act together so as to not disappoint right? I gave out a light laugh at that.
I gathered my courage and decided to strip just before the shore willing myself to swim towards where the blade is to give me time to gather my resolve and think of a way on how to get it. The spring's pungent water is as pleasant as it was this afternoon. I know where Morgif is. I set my steps down firmly and head towards him in the shoulder-deep warm water while holding my lamp.
"Yo, Demon Sword." The blade glows in the water. All of a sudden my bravado fades, and my timid self reasserts itself. I'm strong of will but faint of heart. I took a deep breath to calm myself and looked at the sword again.
"Hey, Melgib, I mean Morgif. This isn't 'hello,' 'cause we met each other this afternoon, do you remember? I'm Branwen! Let's be friends alright? You've been submerged here for 15 years now haven't you? If you came here for your health you must be completely healed now right?. It's about time for you to go home. Don't bite me alright?"
Diving to the water, I timidly reach out my hand. But I won't be able to reach it while holding on to my lamp so I let it fall into the water. The light disappears, and the place plunges into darkness. I closed my eyes to let it adjust to the darkness and concentrate on my breathing, and after a little while the moonlight slanting in from the entrance softly illuminated the inside of the cave.
"...Why do you keep biting me? You're a sword! Ordinary swords don't have faces, you know?! And even when they do, they're not alive, so they don't bite!"
The answer comes to me in a flash. It's not ordinary. It is, after all, a demon sword. Of course it's not ordinary. Why does it bite? Because it has a mouth, because it's alive. It's alive. A sword is an extension of yourself. You have to respect your sword not only as an object but also as a comrade. Alright I remembered! The fragment of courage when I caught a pro ball for the first time in my life. The feeling that I had when I won competitions.
"I'm sorry Morgif, I forgot something really important. Let's be friends alright comrade?" I smiled at the sword. Morgif's hilt is propped up right in front of me. I positioned my hands, and dove to the water again and looked at the warped and swaying Morgif through the refraction of the warm water. He looks like Souseki on a bent note. I laugh.
"Koff! Ofay, Moogiff wibbe, leff go!" Spring water flows into my nose and mouth. I grip the hilt, slender in proportion to the blade, and thrust myself upward with my knees. Morgif struggles for a moment, but finally slides out of the water and shows himself before me. There's the sound of a blade cutting through the wind as he touches air for the first time in fifteen years.
"Aaah."
"...Aaah?"
"Woooo."
"...Hey com'on...you're not the wind..."
"Haaaaao." Can he be singing?! Morgif?!
"We-well, I guess whatever's alive sings. Like puppies barking and kittens purring."
Oh yeah, and kittens are supposed to go 'meh meh.' But what kind of a sword is this, anyway? He has a face instead of jewels or carvings, and moans and groans to assert himself. But my grip on the hilt is comfortable, and he fits my hand exactly. Like holding a fencing sword.
I walk back past the graffiti so I don't have to keep listening to the demon sword's groans. Man, I'm a daredevil, too. I swam toward the shore line where I left my clothes with Morgif in tow. When I step out into the moonlit night, Conrart is waiting for me with his hands on his hips. A lamp was set just beside his foot. I stayed somewhat submerged a few distance away from him. Fully conscious of my nakedness. I looked his way and I couldn't see his face with the moon behind him.
"I know you're grinning."
"How did you know that?" he asked.
"I know exactly what expression you're wearing even when I can't see you."
On that note, I noticed that he had already closed his eyes. On queue, I made my way to the shore. Once I'm almost in front of him, he spreads his arms wide in welcome and wraps me in a bath towel not minding that he will get drenched too. Hmm this feels nice. I got out of his embrace and gathered my clothes to put them back on. Only then he opened his eyes.
"So you did it." He looked at me and the sword in my hand.
"I did it! How about it? The ruler's sword." I joked.
"Brilliant."
"Brilliant? But look at him, this weird face. And he talks, too! Oh, and he's got a mole in the same place as the Buddha." I explained
He's not golden and shining or encrusted with jewels or made of any special alloy, but he's got a tiny black stone the size of a small soybean right in the middle of his forehead.
"Hmmph, I don't think he's brilliant at all." I added.
"I didn't mean Morgif. I meant you."
"Me?"
"Yes, you, Yuuri." He keeps saying these things that set my teeth on edge with such frankness. I have to practice swinging the demon sword a few times to hide my blush. The sword, rather than whistling through the air, makes a jarring, displeased moan.
"...Maybe this will make my approval rating go up a little."I said dejectedly.
"Approval rating?" My acting coach lifts his chin slightly in inquiry as he stands watching over my swings. Was that an unexpected choice of words?
"Yeah, my approval rating as a queen. 'Cause it must be at rock bottom right now, right? None of my people care about me, and even the former prince and my Guard of the Inner Circle hate me. I must have been horrible for a queen huh? I don't even know what I am supposed to do."
I was taken aback when he hugged me and said close to my ear: "That hurts Branwen. You know that I care about you right? Josak is loyal to his duties, but feels no appreciation for Your Majesty. And as for Gwendal..."
I lowered my head and hummed. I feel like my face is burning. Though no one's around, he lowers his voice.
"Gwendal doesn't hate you."
"Why do you say that?" I whispered back.
"Because he loves small cute things. Though you must not say that I told you or I will never hear the end of it" he cupped my chin and he said with a grin.
What?! I looked at him with a questioning look.
"Like kittens or squirrels or those hamsters you see so often on Earth."
"Eeeeh?! Honto? I did not perceive him as such. Hahahaha! Thank you Conrart kyo." We kept eye contact for what felt like an eternity. Then when I realized that we were still hugging each other, I immediately pulled away and semi jogged back to the resting area dragging him along.
VOLTAIRE CASTLE
Once again an odor of hitherto-unknown offensiveness fills the kitchen, and the soldiers have come crying to Lord von Voltaire. Spitting a curse on the name of the man who is the root of all evil, he stomps down corridors of stone floors to the kitchen.
"Günt...guh...hack...oog...!"
Scarlet smoke billows endlessly towards the ceiling. Gwendal hunches over with a hand against his face, tears streaming unstoppably from his eyes.
"Curse you, wh-what are you doing?!"
Pain prickles his nose and throat with every breath. His words are interjected with coughs.
"Günter! What, hack, are you doing hack cough?!"
"Gwendal, is that yoooou?"
Who else would it be?! The brazen perpetrator of the poison gas himself is standing right in the middle of the gushing smoke wearing a mask and glasses.
"Wh, what is this horrible gas?"
"Since you have forbidden me from throwing small animals into boiling oil, I have substituted plants. Look here, does this gigantic red pepper not remind you of a baby mouse when you examine it up close?"
"You're dropping red peppers in oil?"
"Yes."
"A whole lot of red peppers?"
"Exactly!" And thus the invention of Shinma Kingdom's red chili oil.
Seizing Günter's arm, Gwendal manages to drag him out of the kitchen. He can't seem to stop crying yet.
"Stop this fortune-telling."
"Why? Do you not wish to pray for Her Majesty's safe return?!"
"I'm not saying that. I certainly would like her to return safely—it would be quite a bother if she were to die in a foreign land."
"Die?!...how can you say such dreadful things! You demon, ogre, cold-hearted beast!"
"Call me a demon all you want."
They are both part of the Demon Tribe, after all. Günter's beauty is so extreme that women keep their distance from him, and thus actually robs him of the title of most lusted-after man. Still, he has at least retained the crown of Shinma Kingdom's first beauty for almost fifty years running. It must be stated, therefore, that the new queen's powers are not to be underestimated if they are capable of putting such a ghastly expression on his face. Though Yuuri's arrival has probably prompted a shift in the kingdom rankings.
"Or could it be that..." Fear flashes across the face worn beyond all recognition. "...you feign apathy in order to conceal your wicked thoughts towards Her Majesty's person?!"
"You're the one with wicked thoughts towards her person."
"Aaargh, how completely vexing! Just as I thought!"
What is just as he thought?! Gwendal's eyes swim with bemusement on the level of being caught between Osugi and P-ko. Fashion check, please.
"I had my suspicions, vague as they were. After all, Her Majesty is endowed with such wisdom, such beauty—even the noble black in her own person! She is possessed of a strong sense of justice, compassion for his people, and both timidity and fierceness; she touches everything with fresh wonder—in ages past the Shinou's favor would surely have...Gwendal!"
Günter grabs Lord von Voltaire's collar before he is able to sneak away.
"Ah, but of course! If one should peruse the histories of your past love affairs, one would know that you brothers have ever only fallen in love with the strong-willed."
"Stop perusing a thing like that!" That's no ordinary gleam in Günter's eyes. One can almost hear background music behind him.
"...First Wolfram...now you..."
"What an absurd and odious misunderstanding."
"How could it be a misunderstanding? Aaaah! Everyone has fallen madly in love with Her Majesty—!"
"Someone! Someone, I need a hand here! He's gone mad, Lord von Kleist has gone mad!"
He has no choice but to call for help.
VAN DER VEER
The next morning, Yuuri and her group went to the nearest hospital as they learned that there are a couple of terminally ill patients confined there. In hopes to let Morgif absorb a human soul without killing anybody. So they walked around the area disguised as healers/ well-wishers and placed the sword near the bed area of the patients. However everytime they do so, the patient lying on the bed gets better and/ or jumps out of the bed fully healed. A little earlier, as Wolfram was checking the pulse of an unconscious patient, the old man abruptly grabbed Wolfram's hand, opened his eyes and called a woman's name. His daughter and grandchild were overjoyed, and cried and babbled four years' worth of tears and chatter with grandpa.
They are stuck on the hospital race course because Morgif needs to replenish his energy. Shortly after Branwen plucked him out of the hot spring, he lost both his glow and his firmness, sighed a weak 'Hao...' and hasn't said a single thing since.
Their strategy is not working and after a whole morning of going around the hospital they still can't get Morgif his meal. They gathered in the hospital dining area at noon continuing their discussion on how to get a human soul. There are few people around—which is no surprise, since this is the last day of the Fire Festival and everyone is preparing for the grand finale this evening. The locals are busy with commerce, the tourists are busy sight-seeing. So pretty much only the patients and their family and friends and the hospital staff are stuck fretting in the hospital. Since Morgif didn't come with a scabbard, he's been tightly wrapped in cloth and looks like the pitiful Mummy.
"So it's really like Günter wrote in his diary—it can't be used as a demon sword unless it absorbs a human life?!" Branwen finally asked.
"If you're looking for quantity, the quickest way is probably putting a village to the torch. Or slaughtering a family, but that's a bit less effective." Josak said as a suggestion.
"Josak, Her Majesty would never do something so terrible. Though I suppose in the old days Japanese samurai would attack people under cover of darkness to test their new swords, so..." Conrart said.
"Augh! Geez, you guys! Do you have any morals left?! I could never take the life of an innocent person! Nobody should." Branwen countered.
They have been going around the hospital but there aren't any other patients in serious condition. Conrart suggested trying the sanatorium in the east or the old folk's home in the west.
"Ugh. I know this is for Morgif, but I hate this life of going around waiting for somebody to die." Yuuri said.
"This life? It's only been half a day, Your...oops, I mean, My Lady." Conrart looks at my plate and pushes his own dessert over to yuuri.
"This is nothing like your usual appetite. What's wrong? You didn't eat much at breakfast, either. Is hospital food not to your liking?" Conrart inquired of the young lady. Eyeing her with worry.
"No, it's not that. It's not that, just..." Branwen trailed.
"If there's anything else you want, let me know and I'll go look for it. Tourism is the main industry of this island, so they can pretty much prepare anything you want." Conrart proceeded without waiting for Branwen to finish her sentence.
"I want negroshinomayakishy." Wolfram butted in like a child. But was ignored.
"I want...let's see, boat-wrap sushi?" Branwen finally said.
"Boat-wrap sushi? What is that?" Asked by the three.
"You put fresh sashimi and shellfish and stuff on a boat. Foreigners hate raw fish, but Japanese people can't live without sashimi. Like buri or hamachi or inada...oh, sorry, those are all the same fish. Mmm, Japanese amberjack." Branwen explained then once again she retreated to silence.
Conrart peers at her, feels her brow, then touches his forehead to her forehead. "Lord Weller!" Wolfram retorted clearly not liking the older man's action toward his fiancee. Branwen just let him do all that without any protest due to shock. She then immediately turned to the ground to hide her burning face.
"You don't have a fever, but your color isn't good. You're probably still tired from last night. All right then, Josak will go west, I'll head east. You and Wolfram stay in the city. We've rented the second floor of a private house, so you'll be able to keep out of sight better than staying at an inn." Conrart instructed them.
"Wait, aren't I the only one who can carry Melgib? You can't do anything if I don't tag along, right?" Branwen tried to protest.
"There's a high possibility of it being a fool's errand. Still, if I borrow a horse I can get there in two hours. With you along it'd take twice that. I'll take a look around, and if things look promising, I'll come back and get you." He said.
With that, Conrart turned to leave. Josak led the two youngsters to the house that they are renting and turned to leave as well.
Yuuri's POV
The city is overflowing with crowds of happy people having a good time. They've set their cares aside just for today and are all enjoying the festival to the fullest. The women are dressed in long one-piece dresses. Their flower patterns flutter in the breeze, beautiful as real blossoms. The island is brimming with color; everything is so bright it hurts the eyes. I gaze out at the scene from our rented private second floor. Morgif lies next to me, neither howling nor moaning. I suddenly remembered Conrart and Josak's conversation the night before. Then I turned to Wolfram for my questions:
"Hey Wolf."
"What?"
"What's a Lion of Ruttenberg?"
Wolfram thinks for a moment, staring into space, before his gaze finally returns to the diary, and he says, "Come to think of it, I've heard that's what people used to call Conrart. 'Cause his hair was a bit longer then. Ruttenberg is where he was born." hmm.
"Then who is Julia?"
"You should ask Mother that one. Because she was really close to Julia."
"Close?"
"Well...in Shinma Kingdom, there were three women with incredible magical powers. One was Golden Cäli, my mother. Another was Crimson Anissina—she and my brother... Gwendal, have this thing—she's a short lady with red hair that looks like it's on fire."
"A thing with Gwendal?...a thing? What kind of a dangerous thing would that be...?"
"Don't ask me! The last was White Julia. Julia died—almost twenty years ago, now. Though she was one of the three great witches of Shinma Kingdom, she was born blind..."
The magic stone at my chest heats. Its original owner must have been...
"It's a pity that...Conrart...lost his lover..."
Wolfram suddenly starts shouting wildly. Talking about Conrat usually makes him mad, but I've said something so stupid this time that it's thrown off his denotation timing.
"Julia?! Julia, Conrart's lover?! I never heard about that!"
"What, you mean she wasn't Conrart's ex-girlfriend?! Huh? Must be my mistake. Okay then, just one more question, Wolf. What about the young general Grantz?"
His expression hardens, and his white hands clenched into fists on the rough table. The open pages of the diary move slightly in the wind. "Grantz is located on the northern tip of Shinma Kingdom. It's Adalbert's hometown."
Adalbert von Grantz. Cold sweat slides down my spine. He's the first Mazoku I encountered in this world, the man who tampered with my brain. The man who tried to kill me.
"When his fiancée died he immediately abandoned his country. Because he wanted revenge on the Mazoku. He was engaged to...White Julia...Lady Susannah Julia von Wincott. Although this is true, Susannah Julia's father thinks that Conrart Weller is a better fit for her. He is the son of the Queen at that time, he gained prestige as one of the greatest swordsmen in the kingdom and apart from his human lineage, no one can really measure up to him. I don't know much about how Julia and Lord Weller see each other though. "
What's going on here, Conrart? What the heck is going on?! After the conversation I eavesdropped on last night, I can't believe Julia was merely a friend. Which means that he was on the verge of an adulterous love triangle with a woman engaged to be married?! Or was it unrequited love? From when I was a kid, I know from the movies that I have watched that an unrequited love was the most difficult one to forget. Moreover, if the person you are interested in died ahead of you. Their memories lingers with you till the day you die.
"Branwen," Wolfram says coldly.
"Ah, yes?" I was stopped from my thoughts
"Why are you making that face?"
"What face am I making?" I can hardly contain my nervousness at his question.
"Why are you asking about Adalbert and Julia with that expectant and sad look on your face? It's making me angry. Aaaaall right then, let's keep reading this diary!" Wolfram reopened the book and looked as if he was searching for the most embarrassing story that he could find.
"Wah, please just stop reading that thing out loud!"
"Though Her Majesty carried herself with steadfast regality before the coronation, yet there was an air of anxiety about her." he continued despite my protests.
"Stooooop!" Isn't this starting to sound more like a novel?! I reach for the diary, but he side-steps and escapes to the bed.
"...This ephemeral quality, so fragile that it might crumble away at a touch, can be found only in a girl who have not yet crossed the boundary into young women."he continued.
"Just hurry up and burn that thing already! This is harassment!" I pounce, trying to grab it from Wolfram, and land on top of him. This is the exact moment when—
"Listen to this, Heika...oops." Both Wolfram and I's head looked at the direction of the sound.
"..."
"Am I interrupting your fun, by any chance?" Josak bows and closes the door again.
"No, no, wait! We weren't having fun, we were not having any fun of any kind, you're taking it the wrong way! This is a massive, majorly massive misunder—ow!" I've bitten my tongue. I hurriedly got off of Wolfram.
"My my, Young Masters, it's the middle of the day, so if you're going to have a dalliance, you should at least lock the door. You really shouldn't tempt your elders like this," Josak teases in the voice he uses when disguised as a woman, and re-enters the room. He waves the yellow piece of paper in his right hand before slapping it down on the table.
"Hey! That is a misunderstanding. Oh yeah, weren't you going to the old folks' home?" I tried to cover my embarrassment and changed the subject.
"I was about to head over when I remembered to use my head. So I went over to the government office to take a look at the list of people registered at the institution. I mean, 'cause if I went and there was nobody there, then it'd be a total waste of time, wouldn't it? And I was right—all the old folks have gone home for the festival. I'm so glad I found that out before riding over...anyway, I got handed this flyer."
On the yellow paper is a line in large red letters, followed by three small lines, followed by two, three more lines in fine print. At the center is a rough drawing of a couple of young men standing shoulder to shoulder, pointing at the sun.
"I told you, I can't read this."
"'Urgent job recruitment! Be witness to the last moments of a life. Come cheer on a young man your own age facing his death! Seeking attractive young men in their teens. Owned swords are welcome, extraordinary wages, interviews at any time'...I can't read the fine print either." Annoyed, Wolfram snatches away the paper.
"Human cursive is so strange. It has absolutely no beauty or elegance. It's too different from the artistry of our writing." Wolfram added
"But what kind of a job is that, 'be witness to the last moments of a life?' Shouldn't that be a doctor or a nurse?...or an undertaker, maybe?" I asked.
"I don't get this island's writing." Wolfram confirmed.
"What's important is that you and that sword can be at somebody's last moments, right?" Josak claps his hands briskly. "So let's give it a try. Off to the interview!" He half pushed me out of the door.
"What? But I don't think I meet the appearance requirement. Do they allow ladies to join? Oh I know, why don't I disguise myself as a young lad before going to the interview? hmm?" The two of them agree and suggest that I tie my hair and wear loose clothing plus bandages to cover the bulge on my chest and a belt. After dressing up, I went out of the bathroom and gathered the look of the two mazoku in the room. I am wearing a loose blue long sleeved shirt over a white loose polo with a belt to match and a black pants and boots. I looked like a young man off to an adventure.
The two Mazoku said in concert: "You look totally fine!" Then I was led to the interview.
Normal POV
Branwen was led to the interview booth by Josak and Wolfram. She introduced herself as an adventurer named Bran and immediately passed the interview and went on with the registration. She intended to wait for the duo in the lobby to tell them that she already got in. When all of a sudden the game master dragged her towards a carriage saying that the games will begin shortly. The representative passed her a white cloth. She sat quietly on the carriage pondering on what's gonna happen next.
"This is not an ordinary event" she thought to herself.
"That's a rather seedy-looking sword you have there," the interviewer, who looks exactly like Colonel Sanders, mutters, scowling at Morgif. "But the thing is, we suddenly got this teenage kid sent to us yesterday, and it's really put us in a bind. Because if you don't match a young fellow with a young fellow, it won't satisfy the spectators." The representative informed her. Match with another young fellow. Just as she thought.
Yuuri kept quiet.. If I base it in a game setting, those that involve a sword would most likely be a fighting contest. I didn't think it through a while ago. I was too focused on getting Morgif to absorb life. Fight to the death. Reaaaally. Why do I put up with this? I guess I don't have a choice here.
She was delivered to a place near the harbor enclosed by an ivy-covered brick wall. It looks like a stadium at first glance. An official accompanies her down a long corridor. Along the way there are a few places where the noise from outside is audible. It sounds like a subway platform. She was led to a dressing room. She found a corner to change into the white cloth that was given to her a while ago. The wide room is a dirty yellow, lined with benches. Ten or so men are seated away from each other. There's also one leaning against a wall gazing up at the ceiling and another staring into midair muttering an incantation. The one with a cruel smile looks like he's looking forward to something. They're all wearing the same white shirt as her, their weapons at their side.
A lone woman is standing quietly in the corner against the wall. Oppressed by the men's bloodthirsty aura, Yuuri's feet automatically took her to the woman's direction. The slim woman, who looks to be in her late twenties, has dark blonde, shoulder-length hair. Her lips are set in a slight grimace, and she's hugging herself with both arms. There aren't many people chosen for the privilege of honorary positions with attitudes like these. Fully knowing what's about to happen, Yuuri decided to ignore her and await her turn quietly. But suddenly the woman seizes her shoulder and shakes her, continuing the one-sided conversation.
"Here's some friendly advice: just get out of here and go straight home. If you don't have a home, then go back to your parents! If my son wasn't sick, I would never stain my hands with something so awful. If you're not desperately in need of money, don't even think about doing something like this so young." the woman said.
Yuuri still chose to be silent. She failed to realize what the event was about sooner and led her to this situation. She also knows that she can't leave this place unscathe even if she forced her way out. She recalled what the proprietress at the inn "There's a grand finale on the last day of the festival at the arena near the harbor—you'll definitely regret it if you miss it,"
Her solemnity was once again interrupted by a middle-aged man with a cruel smile on his unshaven face. "You look awfully calm" he said as he approached her with a huge axe at his side. She tightened her grip with Morgif to be ready if the man charges.
"I don't get t o see kids as calm as you before. Have you resigned to your fate?" The man continued to question her but she chose to ignore him. The woman that was talking with her earlier approached her again and whispered not to become like that man since he had already developed a taste for killing. She also informed her that she can bide her time. That once the time is finished without anyone dying, both parties will be free to go. Provided that the match was made fun for the spectators.
Sound of screeching can be heard as the game master went to their holding room. He asked Yuuri and a few others to get ready as their time to shine has come. He then led them to a dark corridor. Asked them to wait again. The roof suddenly fell away, and they were engulfed by cheers. So many torches light the round arena that it's brighter than noon. It's almost like the start of a nighter. But this is not a stadium. There are no benches, no bases, no lawn, only rough stone paving and the ocean breeze. What's going to take place here is not a game, but people killing people. The entire audience is on their feet and singing with their hands over their hearts to a sonorous melody played by wind instruments. There are two flags on a pole—one for Cimarron, the other for Van der Veer Island.
In the exaltation around her, Branwen was frozen in place, dazed. Faced with this utterly inconceivable situation, her body is completely paralyzed. She remembered the first fencing competition she had. But that was like a game too compared to where she is right now. She straightened her back and stretched her neck determined to do what she can at the moment. She will neither be killed nor will she kill. She needed to knock her opponent as fast as she could. She didn't train for nothing.
Yuuri darted around looking for her knight . But she guessed that he was still on his trip. She was completely alone in this event. The soldiers shut the iron-latticed door and lock it to prevent the participants from going back in. Some instrument that sounds like a trumpet plays a fanfare. Audience noise and anticipation has reached the G1 level. The condemned criminal is dragged to the opposite gate, and both him and Yuuri prepare for their entrance.
Yuuri's POV
I entered the arena and so did the boy. He was a bit far from me from the entrance so I didn't recognize him immediately. He looked like Rick the sailor from the ship that was hijacked by pirates. I don't know if he'll recognize me with what I am wearing but I turned to him clutching morgif in my hand. My opponent is holding a large two-handed sword. It glistens with good maintenance. A sea breeze crosses the faraway waves into the coliseum. I untie the yellow cloth around Morgif and let it flutter away in the wind. Revealing the demon sword.
Rick mocked me for my sword. "Can you even cut anything with that dull sword?"
"It's not meant for cutting people up," I retorted.
Before I can reach the center of the arena my opponent lets out a strange cry and charges forward. He swings his silver sword down at me.
"...Woah!"
"Woo."
I barely catch it in time, and my arms endure the impact. Morgif lets out a low hungry-sounding moan as metal clashes against metal.
"The umpire hasn't made the call yet! You'll get ejected if you throw a duster!" I can hear my opponent's agitated breathing right next to me. Only when we jump apart and put some distance between us can we finally see each other's face. It really is a kid—he must be about three years younger than me. His face has quite a scattering of freckles, like one of those kids they use for peanut...
The boy has recognized me too, and the point of his sword abruptly drops to the ground. Nonetheless he continued to strike. I jumped and parried our weapons. I looked at his eyes and upon knowing that he's serious about fighting me, I resigned to my fate and seriously fought him too. Well it's more like I just block and he attacks. I have no heart to hurt him. As I think of a way to pass the time like the woman has told me earlier, I slip on my stance then comes a thin, shallow burning sensation across my shoulder.
"Rick...you..." The boy swung at me from behind. His freckles have all but disappeared next to his bloodshot eyes, twisted lips and the red splotches on his cheeks.
"You're as soft-hearted as ever, madam." Now I know why they had me put on a white shirt: red looks good on it.
"Are you really going to kill me?"
"I'll be a free man if I kill you."
"They're lying to you. Come on, Rick, they're lying to you! They hit you and threatened you and did horrible things to you to get you to confess to being a pirate, didn't they? Look, that kind of a confession is invalid. I'll do whatever I can to help, too."
Rick lifts his chin slightly and croaks a long laugh. It's full of the sort of helpless scorn of someone just barely holding back madness. "Who's lying to me?! It was my job to pretend to be an apprentice and put the guards to sleep. It was also my duty to drop the ladder so my comrades could board more easily. Oh yeah, I was the one who reported that the deluxe suite passengers should still be in their rooms, too. You know, I was really quaking in my boots when you caught me right before I was going to put the plan in motion. But you're such a dunce that you said I was doing a good job patrolling!"
Self-loathing fills me, along with a shock that feels like I've been struck on the back of the head. If there were a hole here I'd crawl into it. I trusted the one I shouldn't have, and disdained the trustworthy sailor. "But why...but you want to be a sailor, don't you?! You want to be the captain of a big ship, right?!"
"That's right, missus. I would've been the captain of a big ship. If you people hadn't interfered."
"Captain...of a pirate ship?" I echoed his words
"What other path is there? I've been with pirates as far back as I can remember. A kid like me, what other path is there for me?!" He glares steadily at me, the pupils of his hazel eyes contracted to pinpoints as if they've been possessed by the devil.
I was taken aback with a sound of "Haooo!" Morgif groans thinly, the sound traveling from the guard to the tip. Since he hasn't absorbed a human life, I know that he can't demonstrate his abilities yet. But if I don't do anything but defend, my opponent's going to seize the initiative.
"Huh?" Words suddenly flash across my mind. Not a voice, but written words.
Steel clashes against steel like a high-pitched percussion instrument. The fingers of my right hand at the top of the hilt have gone numb. My index finger grazes the back of the guard.
"I'll be free if I kill you! I'll do it, even if you're a scary Mazoku! They'll honor me if I get a Mazoku! Maybe it'll even mean that someone like me can live as something other than scum!"
"I'll do just what I can." I eyed him as I accepted his challenge.
Repel the falling silver arc from below, turn aside the tip and stagger away. Deflect the next swing slantwise. I pull Morgif back with all my might. Take back. The tip of Rick's blade strikes the ground, scattering blue sparks. With the grip end just skimming my navel, I aim for his forward-slouching waist and swing. My weight shifts from the big toe of my pivot foot to my left arm. The excessive force trusts out my knees. It was supposed to be a Nakamura Nori-style full swing, but however I look at it, it wouldn't have hit anything but a breaking ball, and only managed a foul tip at that.
"...Guh!"
Rick lurches and staggers, crouching and pressing a hand against his stomach. Bloody saliva foams from his mouth. I lower Morgif's tip and finally exhaled. Thankful he can't cut anything. Rick grasps my ankle. He looks up at me with burning eyes, still crouched. Terrible burning eyes full of hatred. He must detest me for being so cruel to him.
"...Kill...me..." he said.
"I'm not going to kill you. Somebody told me earlier that I should take as much time as I can, and the audience will be satisfied without anybody being killed. Something will happen if the audience gets impatient." I stated.
"Woo," Morgif warns. Since you're a demon sword, you must want to absorb his life as soon as possible, but the problem isn't that simple.
"I'm not going to kill you—you should get a proper trial. It's not too late for you to correct yourself. You'll definitely be a sailor one day." The audience begins to howl at our inactivity. They're standing, shouting 'guilty!' Men and women both are spitting curses down on us in language that makes me want to cover my ears, demanding a decisive win or loss. A hand smudged with sweat and sand crawls up my knee. He clutches my shoulder, trying desperately to stand, and wipes the blood from the corners of his mouth.
"You got hit with a full swing, don't try to overdo it." A flash of wind crosses the edges of my vision. The boy convulses wildly and collapses. I can't hold him up with one arm, and fall to the moist stone on my behind.
"Rick?"
He's lying between my feet, and there's a crimson stain welling up, spreading across his back. A heavy dark gray iron arrow is protruding from his white shirt.
"...Rick...why?" The audience roars approvingly. There are even people embracing and dancing. Applause and cheers swell across the arena—even breathing is becoming painful.
"Why?! Why are you giving a standing ovation?! The fight was over! There was no need for this! Who did this? Who shot this arrow?! Get down here! Stand and face me!"
If you take enough time and make the audience impatient, an archer will kill your opponent for you. Is that the way it is? Criminals live very rarely. So that's how it is.
"Dammit, get down here! Show your face, you dirty bastard! This is the work of a coward! Who was it, who thought this up?! Get out here! I'll, I'll kill...him...I'll kill..."
No! In the pure blank whiteness of my head, my Japanese DNA holds back the Maou's soul. This is not why I'm here in this world. This is not why I was chosen. Is it? I don't want to kill anyone.
"Woooooo...wooo...wooo..."
"Morgif?" The demon sword moans intermittently. The obsidian stone in his forehead, set in the same spot as the Buddha's, flashes brightly. There's some kind of uproar in the front row of the guest seats, out of which a faint, blurry blue lump about the size of a ping-pong ball rises and falls in a perfect parabola straight into Morgif's mouth as if sucked in.
"Wait a minute, Morgif, what the heck was that?! You can't just eat whatever people throw away. Spit it out—spit it out right now!" The exact reaction of a pet owner upset at his dog for scavenging for food.
I heard a commotion from a distance. Saying that the grandfather's heart suddenly stopped breathing. The demon sword starts quivering in my hand. I set Rick down gently and hurriedly shifted to a two-handed grip. The light from the stone on his forehead is growing stronger—it's shooting a beam of light up into the sky.
"Wait a minute. Was that...did you just inhale that old man's life? I wasn't trying to invoke you in a place like..."
Unfortunately I'm missing some vital information. What happens when I invoke the demon sword? The VTR neglected to provide an explanatory diagram. Um, let's see, there was something about a cow flying into midair...and a cow flying into midair...it's no use, the impact of that image was so strong that I can't recall the other parts. In the meantime Morgif is still quivering, and the audience has stopped its merry-making. They're too busy now to even think about the second execution. What is happening with that sword? The babble of voices sweeps around the arena. And Morgif barfs. However you look at it, it's a yellow vomit-like substance flowing out of the mouth that bit me. I can't really call it liquid; even though it's sort of amorphous, it doesn't feel wet. The yellow vomit finally thickens into a wide band and begins pulling me along with enormous power. If I let go Morgif will probably make like one of those buckets used in a centrifugal force experiment, and I don't know where he'll end up. I can't lose the ultimate weapon after all the trouble I went through to find him.
Stop it morgif! One of the spectators finally realizes and starts yelling. It's a demon sword.
"It's a demon sword! It'll burn this place to ashes, it's going to kill us all!"