Глава 8

Me? Do I look like Ascalon...? And I don't think we have anything we need from her yet anyway.

More information is gonna depend on where you use it, I guess. I really don't know how to handle a person like that.

What about those L.G.D. people?

What? It's not like it's your first time at Rhodes Island. What's there to be shy about?

I just got promoted. I don't want anyone thinking I'm working under the table with Rhodes.

Missy, you're totally good with it, huh? You make it look like you're going shopping.

Who could stop me?

Sure enough. You got that rich girl brain.

Hmm...? Chief Wei's office. Who's... that?

...An angel with blue hair? Or a Sarkaz?

Woah! She's really hurt!

Hey! You can't just barge in... Chief Wei is in there.

Looks like you got company, Chief.

Anyone who could make their way in here is someone I can trust. Let's have you look after your own wounds first.

If you don't mind letting those two out there eavesdrop, then this little scratch is no big deal.

What are you doing here, Laterano Messenger?

I'm not here as an official Laterano Messenger...

(Although, the Church does actually have a message for you.)

Hoshiguma! Take Swire outside.

Oh, roger that!

Hey! Why just me...?

There.

Speak, Messenger.

...He said... (Laterano language).

'What did you have for breakfast? And what will you eat for dinner?'

...Odd. Why would he want to know what I think?

I think... You are the Chief, Mr. Wei.

They're not here in an official capacity. The blonde tiger and the green-haired Oni... I think they're probably here to meet an old friend or something?

But hey, if we carry on like this, we could have the Ursus Royal Guard taking a stroll around the landship.

When they came by, did the... patient, react at all?

Nope.

I can only ever guess at what Kal'tsit's thinking. Oh, I'll get the surveillance set up, you stand under that camera. C'mon, c'mon~

Talulah.

Humans are weak, complicated, selfish creatures.

Even cystybeasts possess a nobility human beings lack. They forage the land day after day, never stopping, never giving up.

Unlike humans.

Humans kill one another for food. Humans harm one another for selfish desires.

As such, human beings use others to determine their own value, to measure their worth. You have what it takes to enlighten them them, you have the right to use them.

You know what you must do. I taught you all that you are... How do you overcome these countless years of oppressive history? The history of humanity is a history of struggle.

Wisdom, ideals, and methods... Your sight is my sight. Surrender your fantasies. Sooner or later, you will return to me.

I am your only end.

Kashchey... No, Kashchey. Absolutely not.

All that you taught me now weighs on my body, carved into it as scars forever. The past is behind us.

It's all... over.

Indeed... I must put an end to all you have brought.

All the ugliness and shame you cast upon me... will be my fuel. It will fuel my future.

Until I find you, until this world is liberated, I will never stop burning.

I will not deny you again, Kashchey. I oppose you.

Until all the wrongs have been righted and all our sins purged.

It will be done. Even if our end is the same, I will burn it all to ashes. Even if I burn to death.

How long have you been out?

Oh, I can't be bothered to count. I lost track a while ago.

But even if you run, you won't get away.

One needs a hammer to strike a nail. And if all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

Maybe now is the time.

Vina! Come here, please. I have words for you.

Alright, Dr. Kal'tsit.

Just a moment. One question. Are you ready?

I'm not sure. But I guess I'm ready whenever.

Your Majesty...

Here is the completed report on the incident.

—How did this happen?

Did one of the Royal Guards betray us?

Witte, give me an honest answer.

My chest is an unlit fireplace on a winter day. Only honest words will get my heart beating again, whether or not an unpleasant truth may break it.

No. Your Royal Guards would never betray Your Majesty. They will remain loyal to you until the world itself is consumed by fire, as long as you are the rightful Emperor of Ursus.

You and I both know those are but empty words. Would that the Guard did more than stand back and watch the old monster die...

Enough! No more platitudes, no more masks, I've grown weary! Witte, you are no fool. Tell me your thoughts! And look me in the eye as you do!

Where are the puppetmasters behind this plot?

Grand Duke Baikal, Deputy Marshal of the Third Army and Governor General Rosin, and Viscount Kerque.

Of course, I still lack the evidence to prove that they actually orchestrated the entire ordeal.

Further, when the Royal Guard went to hang them all in their homes. They found...

These traitors, lacking the courage to face their crimes and your wrath, they took their own lives rather than bear their due punishment.

Cowards... absolute cowards! Have they not even the meager courage it takes to stand trial?

They must have known! They knew that a trial would reveal their base desires, their corrupted minds, to all the people of Ursus!

And yet... now we will never bring them to trial.

True, Your Majesty. How regrettable that we must now keep this knowledge behind the curtain, rather than take it out onto the stage.

Even a stupid burdenbeast will do more than chew grass when roused.

Nevertheless, the Royal Guard disposed of their remains in the proper manner.

Their rotten corpses will dangle, stinking from the ceiling. No one will dare take them down.

Had their conspiracy succeeded, Ursus would have suffered another war, they would have seen their influence increase, proportionally draining the power of the Council... perhaps further degrading our cities.

We are most fortunate they failed.

Traitors! Death was too good for them. I should feed them to the Flesh Buthidas!

But... that would be a terrible thing. No. We can't do that.

Pardon me, Witte. I didn't mean to lash out like that.

We must not go back down the road of ruin. No matter how much rage I have for my enemies, I cannot exhibit such behavior.

You did not resort to them during the Great Rebellion. To this day, I feel that only a proper, blood-soaked threat would have stirred them.

Pure terror is the only language those who terrorize the innocent can understand.

Although I am personally opposed to such measures.

Unfathomable.

Must I resort to such ancient brutality, such poisonous traditions to stand against the ignorant?

And as these maggots seize the swords and shields of our empire, are even we left to naught but rot?

Forgive me, Your Majesty. I do not have an answer to that question. From a constitutional perspective, I am not your legal spymaster.

More importantly, Witte, is the legend true? Is the 'Deathless Black Snake' a malignant deity that cannot be slain?

And are there other such deities like it in our realm? What can we do to free our people from this tyranny?

Witte, we stand now in the light... surrounded by darkness! Can we use fire to illuminate Ursus?

Your Majesty, I must point to one fact. In recent decades, only the Duke of Kashchey, among all the Ageless, shows clear signs of involvement in these events.

And even after his death, we are unable to confirm her identity.

That tells us that the Ageless of Ursus... still fear you.

They fear you and your contempt.