Volume 5
Side Story 3
Waiting for Conviction,
as Dusk Falls
Translator : PolterGlast
—Shumon Province, Hasebe Territory, Kamotsu.
Benedetta Casalini's
footsteps echoed on the wooden corridor as she made her way to the Kuga
residence. She could not hide her grim expression. She visited shortly after
hearing of Kuga Hōri's return—around the same time that Akira and the others
had landed in Qingdao.
Hōri must have
anticipated Benedetta's visit, for his wife, Rinko, was there to greet her.
A cold draft blew
through the polished wooden surface, chilling Benedetta to the bone.
In the cobbled garden,
the gardeners loosened the straw wrapped around the trees. Rinko smiled at the
sight of the girl watching from the side.
"Is this
unusual?"
"Yes. Wrapping
trees is something we don't do in Vansuir."
"It is the
process of giving a bed to tree-eating insects and burning them before they
awaken.
―My husband is very proud of this landscape garden, so
please take your time admiring it."
"It's beautiful.
I imagine it must have cost a fortune."
Unlike agricultural
land, gardens were a hobby for the wealthy, and it was a common saying in any
country that people could go bankrupt pursuing such a hobby.
―But because of that, it can also be used as a hidden
gauge of someone's financial situation.
Benedetta carefully
assessed the scale of the garden to gauge the family's wealth.
"My husband takes
care of such matters. He claims that it's an heirloom from the previous
generation."
"A garden of this
scale must have taken many years to create.
It is worthy of being
considered a family treasure, thanks to the generations that have nurtured
it."
Kamotsu had long been
a prosperous city as the gateway to Takamagahara. So Benedetta simply replied
as she stood in front of the garden, a testament to that glorious history.
Even though the cold
wind was blowing outside, the interior was surprisingly warm thanks to the
shoji screens.
After a while,
Benedetta was led into the middle hall, where
Kuga Hōri was sitting
in the spacious room, looking calm and collected.
The fact that Akira
was not coming to Kamotsu had been announced earlier than Houri's return.
Benedetta's
dissatisfaction was understandable, as her plans had been disrupted.
"I was expecting
you, but I thought I could at least have a day of rest after returning.
Casalini-dono."
"I've come to ask
you about your intentions.
...Or do you intend to
disregard the alliance with Vansuir?"
"Quite the
opposite.
It would be
unthinkable for Takamagahara to disregard your country."
Hōri responded
nonchalantly, scratching the side of his tray. With Rinko bowing and leaving
the room, Benedetta, her brow furrowed, continued her questioning.
"So, are you
saying that you intend to break your promise to send Akira-sama to
Kamotsu?"
"You might call
it a promise. But, what we agreed on was to find a way to send Yotsurugi-dono
to Bharatush as quickly as possible.
If a better option
presents itself, it would be natural to take it."
"...So you're
saying that your country possesses high-draft ships. That's a clear violation
of our alliance."
One of the agreements
made with Vansuir was the provision of military technology. The reason why
Vansuir had agreed to this was based on the assumption that Takamagahara did
not possess high-draft ships.
If Takamagahara had
the technology to build high-draft ships, it would mean that their military
power would increase much faster than Vansuir had anticipated.
That was a problem.
After all, the rise of the Eastern Continent, which Vansuir had previously
viewed with pity, would undoubtedly alarm the nobles who had been complacent.
"I admit that we
own high-draft ships, but they are under the jurisdiction of the Dōgyō family.
None of us, let alone
the Gioin family, are allowed to interfere."
"Where did they
come from? As far as I know, I haven't heard that Rondaria helped you."
"Well, I was
strictly ordered to keep it a secret.
I hope that things
will change once the navy is established."
Hōri's expression
remained unchanged as Benedetta stood up.
Faced with the soft
arrogance of the man who ruled Kamotsu, Benedetta sighed.
"......Let me
change the question. Does the head of the Kuga family inquire as to where
Akira-sama currently is?"
"He should be
arriving in Qingdao soon. If all goes according to plan, he intends to transfer
from the port and enter Baratush."
"Haa..."
Benedetta resigned herself to the expected answer from Hōri. The girl's heels
turned before she even bowed her head in resignation.
"I will depart
for Qingdao as quickly as possible. Surely, I can obtain an exit permit
immediately, can't I, Lord Kuga?"
"Of course. This
decision was mostly Yotsurugi-dono's sole discretion. In truth, we have our own
thoughts on the matter. If Lady Casalini wishes, we can issue the permit after
you leave here."
"Very well. Then
we will depart today."
Seeing Benedetta leave
abruptly, Hōri took a sip of the lukewarm green tea. After a while, Rinko, who
had escorted Benedetta to the gate, returned and began to open the shoji doors
of the central hall.
On a sunny winter day
like this, if there's no particular need, they probably want to let the
sunshine on the tatami mats. Not having a particular reason to stop her, Hōri
drew the brazier closer to his cold body.
"Has she left the
gate?"
"Yes. ...She
seemed quite agitated. Her cheeks showed clear signs of displeasure as she
departed."
"If that's all,
then we're fortunate. I wonder what they're being so cautious about. From
Vansuir's perspective, Rondaria should be an excommunicated enemy."
Hōri responded with a
frown to Rinko's wry smile.
He knew that the
situation surrounding the Western Continent was more complicated than it
seemed. While they were allies on the surface, there was always the possibility
of betrayal. In some cases, fathers would even poison their daughters on their
wedding night.
Rondaria was the same.
Immediately after being excommunicated by the Ariadne Holy Church, they drew in
a faction of the church known as the Ethos faction. Ever since, despite seeming
to be completely at odds, they maintained a close but distant relationship.
"The trigger was
probably the Age of Iron (God's Departure). The further they stray from their
Divine Pillar (Ariadne), the more concerning the continent's uncontrolled
actions become."
And the fact that the
Ariande Holy Church, which was in a position to restrain them as the suzerain
state, seemed to be cooperating was also suspicious.
It's as if something
is trying to draw both the Eastern and Western Continents into a maelstrom.
"Even if we are
welcomed by demons from beyond the veil, it wouldn't be surprising. ...This
is..."
"―As for me, I'm
more worried about Ryōta and Saki-san's safety.
To think they'd give
Saki to some random person! Even though it was an order from the Kihoin family,
Kozaburo Rindō's judgment has clouded."
"Don't say that.
Besides, Kamotsu is in a state of turmoil right now.
Even if it means
taking a loss, we should focus on assisting the Hariin family."
Rinko's complaints
brought Houri back to reality.
It was a fact that
Akira as a Kanna-no-Mikura was still a closely guarded secret among the Three
Imperial Families, Four Sovereigns, and Eight Families. Therefore, his wife's
accumulating dissatisfaction was one of Hōri's worries.
He shivered from the
unchanging cold and slowly rose to his feet. He honestly wanted to rest, but
the pending paperwork from his absence was piling up. Directing his thoughts to
the documents stacked on his desk, Hōri let out a gloomy sigh.
♢
After leaving the Kuga
residence, Benedetta headed straight for Kamotsu's harbor.
A burly man with a
beard stood up from a small boat docked at the pier.
Paolo Battista,
captain of the Catarina, a fast clipper that Vansuir was proud of, looked
tired.
It was understandable,
as he had been staying in Kamotsu for several months now for one reason or
another.
"Oh. Are we
finally setting sail?"
"Yes. But I'm
changing my plans. I and two inquisitors will disembark in Qingdao.
Captain Battista,
please proceed to the port of Lanka as planned."
Benedetta stated
firmly, cutting off any objections, and boarded the small boat. Salvatore
Torliani and Alessandro Trovato, her subordinates, followed her, squeezing
themselves into the cramped space.
The small boat rocked
precariously as the large man boarded.
"We've been
taking it easy until now, so this is quite sudden."
"Unfortunately,
the Kihoin family has outmaneuvered us.
Akira-sama is
currently in Qingdao. —According to Lord Kuga, he would transfer from the port,
but if he wanted speed, his goal should be the Eastern Continent Railway."
"I see. So we've
been outmaneuvered on speed. It seems that not being able to lie is quite
inconvenient."
Batista, who had only
a superficial understanding of the situation, lit the fire in the small boat.
Eventually, the small
boat, filled with warmth, began to trail a plume of black smoke.
"Captain
Battista, can you mobilize the subordinates stationed in Qingdao?"
"I can't move
them in that much detail for fear of being intercepted by the Rondaria. ...But
it might be possible."
"Very well. —As
soon as possible, contact the consul who governs the Qingdao concession. If you
get a positive response, subtly hint at Takamagahara's interference."
Paolo Battista, the
captain of a state-of-the-art warship, was knowledgeable about politics despite
his rough appearance.
And since he possessed
long-range radio communication equipment, he was undoubtedly the person with
the longest reach that Benedetta could command.
Right now, his
influence is invaluable.
"Is it such a big
deal? I understand that the Son of Grace is precious, but he's just one
child."
"Sir Torliani's
opinion is not to be taken lightly, but I am of the same opinion.
Even the authorities
in Vansuir are skeptical about the existence of the Son of Grace."
"―Indeed."
Benedetta nodded,
acknowledging the objections of her two trusted aides.
But that was because
they only knew the surface value. If they could see the gem hidden beneath the
ordinary stone, their opinions would change.
This was a conflict
between those who knew and those who didn't.
However, the truth of
the matter is so excessive that it stirs up human greed to an excessive degree.
Benedetta wisely
decided to remain silent in Takamagahara.
"...How is the
project that Rondaria is leading progressing?"
"I guess it would
be better not to ask how you know."
"The spell to
seal the divine pillar that the late Vincenzo Ambrosio took. It's obvious,
considering where the barrel of the gun aimed to."
"—Apparently, the
reproducibility of the experiment using the divine artifact has been secured,
and the Cardinal's council is quite enthusiastic about it."
"Then, as soon as
Akira-sama arrives in Qingdao, he will notice something strange."
The reason for the
drastic decrease in the number of Rondarians in Qingdao. What Akira is about to
face is a glimpse of the world ruled by the Divine Pillar.
Benedetta, who had
already anticipated the answer, looked out at the approaching Catarina.
Beyond the swaying
waves, the smoke canister of the steam engine peeking out from the sailing ship
was reflected in the girl's vision as if it were a symbol of the times of
impasse.
♢
—Shumon Province, Karen. Divine Realm, Bankyū Daigaran.
Even the harsh winter
that dominated the mountain peaks could not reach this sacred realm.
Especially here, where
the fire element ruled, the cold was a distant concept.
Shuka simply watched
the city of Karen, which was gradually being dyed in the color of lights, and
then leaned back on the tatami mat.
Go stones spilled from
her fingers, and a bored sigh escaped her lips.
"......It's boring,
isn't it?"
"It's your turn,
Aka-sama. Please make your move quickly."
"Don't be cheeky
You can't win against me with your moves, Tsuguho."
Tsuguho Kihoin pouted
at the reply from the reclining girl. As the black and white stones were poured
into the go bowl with a rustling sound, Shuka sat up.
"Where do you
think Akira is now?"
"If there are no
delays in the schedule, he should have arrived at Qingdao by now.
Once he boards the
train, even Benedetta Casalini won't be able to catch up."
"—You were not
very thorough, Tsuguho."
As they gazed at the
dusk, Shion, Tsuguho's mother and the governor of Shumon Province, interrupted
their conversation. Before one knew it, Shion was standing behind them.
"A telegram from
Lord Kuga has just arrived.
Benedetta Casalini has
requested permission to depart this evening."
"That's a bit
early, but it's as expected.
Even with the speed of
steam engines, they won't be able to catch up until they enter Bharatush."
"...But Mother,
you said that she had figured out our plan to use the Eastern Continent
Railway.
At worst, she might
catch up before he reaches Bharatush."
"She's quite
clever."
"Will Akira-san
notice?"
"—It depends, but
there's no need to worry."
The time they had
gained could be lost depending on the situation. Despite Tsuguho's worries,
Shuka replied nonchalantly.
For her, everything in
the world was fleeting. No matter how much time passed or how people changed,
she was not interested in anything else.
The only exception was
the Kanna-no-Mikura, which was allowed to be reflected in her eyes.
Akira would soon learn
the true meaning of his existence.
The girl who embodied
the fire element smiled, anticipating the choices Akira would make at the end
of his journey.
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