Глава 13

They stand on the horizon, out of reach.

I suppose you may be feeling guilt and melancholy, perhaps mixed with a dash of pride?

You ponder the cruel choices you've made, but your mission is now accomplished.

I guess you proposed a deal to Theresis regarding the nomadic cities that once belonged to Gaul.

Londinium is too small, she can't contain the Sarkaz ambition. He is simply using this place to provoke the expansionist lust of Terra's other powers.

Do you honestly believe he cares at all for your Gaul?

Londinium's fall is complete, but you are no fool. You see it.

The Military Commission of Kazdel has no intention of occupying Victoria.

Correct, I am no fool. I never once placed my hopes in Theresis keeping his word.

And yet you still had a hand in so many tragedies.

Are you trying to create an opportunity? Like what the Sarkaz are doing for Kazdel?

Perhaps this war will exhaust the ducal militaries, making space for the ghost of Gaul to return to the land of the living.

But the question is—

—Do you actually believe that, René Lettou?

What else can I believe in?

I've admitted my weakness. Do you need me to admit my stupidity, my despair, my irrelevance?

What do you want from me?

Cooperation.

The Self-Salvation Corps, those resisting the Sarkaz, those struggling for survival among Victoria's nonsensical nobility, they all still have a chance.

And that which you seek, your so-called 'Gaul', may also exist within that chance.

Gaul... oh, Gaul.

It seems you're still willing to fight.

For a person like you, the dusty rubble is a platform from which to grab the next ledge.

For you, those like you, for the Military Commission...

You are strong enough to subvert a nation, to change the course of history, not to mention... manipulate the fate of one or two men like me.

Enough of the self-pity. There is still much we can do before hell descends upon us.

Whether you consider this a form of atonement or the beginning of a new struggle doesn't matter to me.

But Lettou, I hope we can—

Now then, oh great one, can you tell me—

How I might save myself?

There it is. You haven't a clue yourself.

Let me by.

You really won't turn back?

I won't.

Then I can't say I wish you well.

Your hands are stained with the blood of so many, with the blood of my friends, and you carry on with such despicable decisions.

René Lettou!

That'll do, then. Run along now, the Sarkaz are coming.

I still have... to say goodbye.

Ces Lingones baignent nos yeux de larmes♪

Le champ de bataille est chargé d'amertume et de peine♪

Mais ce jour viendra, c'est certain♪

Pour juger à mort les agresseurs♪

Pour juger à mort les agresseurs♪

A 'Vieux Vanguard' living in the city.

Why is he the first thing to come to my mind in this moment?

...Name! Rank! Unit!

Your baton is pressed against my waist rather harshly, sir.

Fermez-la! Report... Name, rank, and unit! Soldat!

Lingones Youth Vanguards, 2e Régiment de la Garde Sautante, Caporal Lettou!

My... unit?

Yes, your unit.

I've... never seen you... before.

You have, you've just forgotten, sir.

Have I...?

L'Empereur, Sa Majesté, he ordered me to recover here... but... I want to know... what's happening... on the front lines.

Le Roi-Sorcier... the wicked Witch King... did our fleet... destroy him?

I saw it on television... the Victorian Duke with the great... big... HUGE beard... his army!

Do they... wish to betray Sa Majesté... our great Emperor... they will stab him in the back... too?

Sir, Londinium has fallen.

C'est bien! Good!

I'll be promoted... to the Vieux Vanguard! You... it's not your time yet... you still need... to prove yourself!

He's nearly ninety years old. He's been not-entirely-there for quite some time, forgetting nearly everything.

For decades, his mind has remained in the golden age when the Gaulishmen joined Corsica I's march into Leithanien.

The nurses always said he had only a year to live, but he's still here.

He's lived to see Gaul become history.

He's lived to Londinium teetering on the edge of her grave.

Before I left the Defense Forces, I issued one last order, to guarantee the safety of this sanatorium.

This is the only thing I did for myself in my entire long service to the Forces.

I brought you a Rheims Champagne, from Lingones. Your favorite. Have a seat, won't you?

Hm...

A fine drink, Caporal, mm...

Ces Lingones baignent nos yeux de larmes♪

Le champ de bataille est chargé d'amertume et de peine♪

...Pour juger à mort les agresseurs...♪

When you sing that song, it's as if there never was any pain, as if you never aged a day.

...Notre drapeau sera toujours glorieux♪

I've never seen Lingones.

You told me again and again about those magnificent halls, the flourishing road networks...

...Do you remember Golding, the girl who visited you with me so many years ago?

She's dead.

She died for this cruel, unshakeable, bloodstained world.

And I'm one of the murderers responsible for it all.

I don't know... what to feel for her.

But she's gone. She's out of my sight, and she'll certainly never see me anymore.

I... I'm frightened, sir.

A girl called Amiya says that all I've done was done out of cowardice.

I once confessed to Golding that my only goal was to survive the ruin to come.

But I still hope...

Even if it's just a pretext, I still hope—

That from the ruins, a new Gaulishman will rise...

No, that's not it.

I wish Golding could keep on teaching the children, under the sunshine, among the fragrance of the flowers.

Her persistence was truly beautiful.

But me, I'm the one who... I'm...

I've done all I can, sir. It's tiring.

Do you think we still have a future?

He'd fallen asleep minutes ago.

Right then.

I draw my saber. A sword that once belonged to a Gaulishman.