Chapter 200
(Kyle Calendar Year 511: Age 18)
The Darkness Never Ends
Translator : PolterGlast
In the mansion of a
certain noble in the Kyle Kingdom, in a dim room built in the basement, there
was a man who had been imprisoned for a long time.
He had been confined
there ever since he had secretly visited the head of the house, seeking his
aid, over a year ago. His princely appearance was now overgrown with hair and a
beard, transforming him into something resembling a mountain bandit.
"Well, well, it
is a rare thing indeed for Your Excellency to visit me yourself. The last time
was... about half a year ago, perhaps? Have you finally become willing to hear
my proposal?"
"Hmph, you are a
great criminal of the kingdom. Do you understand your own position?"
"Of course. Your
Excellency's feelings, in keeping a great criminal such as myself here for over
a year without handing me over to the kingdom... I understand them perfectly
well. Your heart is wavering. That which lies deep within, you wish for the
revival of your honorable family line. But I sympathize that the current
situation is far too cold and harsh for that."
"What do you
know!"
"I know it well.
Your heart is tormented by regret, despair, and jealousy, and it wavers. We can
help you achieve your great ambition."
"Hmph, is that
how you and your father tamed Goyoku? A fool who, by rights, had no talent for
anything but greed."
"Those men were
far too lacking as actors and did not have the capacity to play out a good
script, even one that was prepared for them. One became engrossed in his own
schemes and, in the end, drowned in them, meeting a pitiful end. The other lost
sight of himself through his own greed, forgot the greater cause, misjudged his
priorities, and was miserably destroyed. One must say it was a case of reaping
what you sow for men of their caliber.
But you, Your
Excellency, are different. You did not immediately believe my words and have
been cautiously observing the situation all this time. The only ones we wish to
walk with are those who possess both caution and excellence. Not such fools as
they."
"Oh? You speak
quite ill of your own father and the man you, even if only nominally, hailed as
your leader."
Saying this, he stared
at the man anew. Despite being imprisoned for over a year, this man was full of
vitality, and his words and actions showed no sign of decline. His inscrutable
demeanor even evoked a sense of fear.
"That we are
called great criminals... we feel no compunction about it. When the times
change, the evaluation of the crime itself changes. Even the first King Kyle,
who usurped the demonic people and stole this country, is a great criminal if
one changes one's perspective. We are merely in the same position as he."
"Oh? You justify
your own actions in such a way? But surely, the success of your schemes and
being praised by history are two different things? In the first place, what is
it you want to do? Is there any meaning in overthrowing this country?"
"Meaning... each
person's thoughts on that will differ. First, it is about winning. A plan only
has meaning if one is on the winning side. The fate of this country is already
sealed. Your Excellency must have sensed this and are feeling anxious that the
dream you have long held will not come true.
A plan is something
one carries out in order to win. By winning, a path will open for Your
Excellency's dream to come true. That is what a plan is for. And there is still
time to carry it out."
"..."
"Though it was
only a formality, that man is already your equal in rank, and that is only as
of now. If, by some chance, he were to win the next battle, the gap would
become utterly hopeless. If you wish for the restoration of your family name
and your house's honor, please seek me out at any time. I can be of assistance
to Your Excellency."
Hearing this, the
master of the mansion left the man in the basement room and turned on his heel.
Left behind was a man with a faint smile on his face.
※
After the master of
the mansion had left, and confirming that no one else was in the room, the man
slowly moved to the side of the room and knelt.
"Master, thank
you for going to the trouble of coming."
"Lugner, it has
been a while. To see through my concealment... impressive. Does this mean your
dark magic, and the darkness you wear, have grown even deeper? It seems you
have already surpassed your father.
So, what is your impression
about that man? Speak your thoughts on his value as a host, and the possibility
of him becoming such."
"Yes! Unlike my
father, he has a sharp mind. He is wavering now, but he is wavering
considerably, so he will likely fall soon.
He himself is not
aware of it, but he has already committed a grave sin and has as good as raised
the banner of rebellion against the kingdom. He is harboring me, a great
criminal, without handing me over to the kingdom. This is already an
inescapable fact.
He is a coward. He
cannot even face the true feelings lurking in his heart and is wavering,
concerned with appearances. But that straightforward nature, once fallen, will
be deeply stained. As a good host..."
"Hmm... perhaps I
was mistaken. I should not have entrusted our future to your father, but to
you, much sooner."
"You honor me
with your words. But please, do not concern yourself. The failures up to now
have merely been the lancing of a boil within the darkness. In a few years,
this time for sure, this country will be destroyed."
"Hmph, spoken
like a true heir. In the Empire as well, although there were some minor
miscalculations, things are generally moving in the direction we desire. The
deadline is in about two years, perhaps?"
"I understand
perfectly. By the time two years have passed, I will have that man
well-trained."
"There have been meddlers
time and time again. Those who change our script and rewrite history into
something different. Next time, we must be doubly cautious."
"Yes, we too have
been made to suffer greatly by those brothers. To offer them up as a bloody
sacrifice... that alone is my desire."
"But one is of
the light, and it seems the younger brother also has a wielder of light. It may
be that they have revived the light that the Light Clan possessed, the light
that dispels darkness. Your father's end... he must have received a
considerable amount of light. Otherwise, his state would be unthinkable.
You, too, must be
careful. Of the light and... well, the other one is likely no longer a
possibility."
"Yes! I will
continue to exercise the utmost caution."
"By the way,
regarding that country you proposed... I am making moves on my end, and it is
progressing reasonably well. If we keep our sights set on two years from now,
we should be able to manage."
"Thank you. To
borrow your words, Master, a plan should be layered two- and threefold. If
there are those in the Empire who would obstruct our plans..."
"Indeed. If only
that brat weren't there... If he hadn't interfered, your father's strategy
would have succeeded.
If the Imperial army
had been in a sufficient state of readiness, the light could not have gone out
as reinforcements, and Teigoon would have fallen. If Teigoon had fallen, the
war situation in other areas would have also proceeded advantageously. Even if
that fool Goyoku had been defeated. Then, the Imperial (Empire) army could have
crossed the border and ravaged the southern lands.
The failure last time
was that I underestimated and misjudged him."
"Yes, but next
time will be different. We are making our new moves, taking even his existence
into account. If we do, then surely..."
"Well then,
first, the matter of the new host, I leave it to you. If you can settle it by
the end of the year, you will move west for the next step, the strategy you
yourself proposed. You will eventually be in command there. I am counting on
you."
"Yes! I have
certainly understood."
Lugner, who had failed
to capture Teigoon and had fled into the demon territory, had not let his
ambition die. He held an even greater scheme in his heart and was maneuvering
to achieve his most cherished desire.
He held in his heart a
new conspiracy that Takuhir and the others could not even imagine, one that had
not existed in the previous history.
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