18-6 Part 1
Those Who Maneuver in the Shadows 1
Shinza's Daily Life
Translator : PolterGlast
・Mama's
Boy
「Say,
when is he going to drop dead?」
「I
would say he has about half a month left at most. His condition could worsen
right now, and he might pass away.」
That is good news. Because
Father shut himself in the Red Dragon Palace and thoroughly lived a healthy
lifestyle, a turn never came around for us Princes. That will soon end. It
can't be helped if my expression loosens from being too happy.
「I see.
Then let's spread rumors while we have the chance.」
「Rumors,
is it?」
「Yeah,
Mama, you see, says it... 'You must not choose your means to win, my little Julius♪',
she says.」
「Yes.」
Mama's words are
absolute. Mama absolutely never makes mistakes. Following Mama's advice, I have
climbed all the way to this point.
「So,
you know, let's spread the rumor that the Emperor is being poisoned.」
「...In
that case, a culprit will be necessary. Who will you make it out to be?」
「That
old hag Dunail and Uncle Morac.」
「That
is... won't the other party
not stay silent either...?」
Those two are
cunning and troublesome. One controls the Parliament and educational
institutions, and the other controls the State Church. Their military power
isn't a big deal, but if left alone, we'll be cornered.
「What
are you saying? Because Mama said so, you know? 'Actively use lies that won't
be exposed, my cute little Julius♪', you see!?」
「Haa...
Is that so.」
The page was
bewildered. But I am proud of being a mama's boy. It's stranger to be ashamed
of a son loving his Mama. That's what I think.
「Ah,
you cringed just now, didn't you?」
「No...」
「Mama's
family home, you know, is a house that played the fool in the previous
succession dispute, right? At that time, Mama learned. No matter how dirty the
methods used, the winner gets to decide what justice is.」
「That
is... one of the truths.」
「Right!?
Guys who win, you see, mostly use cowardly methods. That's why they win.
Naturally they get criticized, but in the end, the dirty guy wins, and everyone
shuts up. That's the truth of history, all victors are the worst scumbags!」
Mama felt
frustrated. That in the previous succession dispute, their house lost, and she
had no choice but to marry into the Emperor's family to protect her house. Mama
said that her married life with Father was the worst. The guy who hurts my
beloved Mama is no father of mine!
「Then,
as you say...」
「The
next Parliament session is going to be rough, ahaha! I can see Uncle Morac being denounced by the opposition
party! ...Ah, what is that idiot Crown Prince doing?」
「It
seems he is just sleeping, constantly hugging that jewel.」
「I see.
Uncle Morac shouldn't oppose his
disinheritance either. After that, it's a matter of who to make them fight
with. I need to think about this carefully.」
Setting the eccentric
Ashley aside, Georg will probably support whoever wins the
succession dispute. Besides, to crush Yord, the Empire's General Georg
is necessary. Let's remove Georg from the options. He's also too popular
to frame.
「You
are a terrifying person... You truly do not choose your means...」
「Naturally.
Oh right, what happened to that thing the White Knight gave us?」
「According
to the captured alchemist, the cauldron itself is complete. All that's left are
the materials.」
「Materials,
huh...」
「In
ancient times, it was written in that thing that they used old soldiers.」
「Old
soldiers, huh, sounds good. Then let's use elderly people with no relatives.
Young guys with no ties are fine too. Gather those kinds of folks from our
territory and use them. Right now, we need military power that can rival Georg
and Yord.」
Useless elderly
people are a hindrance to the economy. Rather than abandoning aged parents in
the mountains, it's happier for them to be melted down and turned into an army
from the Age of Gods.
「Yes,
as you command...」
If the succession
dispute escalates into a civil war, that will truly be the beginning of my era.
The strongest armored giants, whom no one can scratch, will promise my glory as
Emperor.
◆ ◇ ◆ ◇ ◆
・Bookworm
Being tired, I took
the day off. I shut myself in my room and skimmed through the books I had
hoarded up. Zirant kept me company too, but unfortunately, the book did not seem to be to
her liking, and she was sprawling on the bed, dozing off.
「Reading
itself is a meaningful hobby.」
「Hm?
Yeah...」
「But
you see, leaving Wagahai, your master, aside and directing your eyes
only at books. This is not good, you understand?」
「Yeah.」
「No,
you do not understand at all! Do you intend to spend your precious vacation
cooped up in your room like this!?」
「Isn't
it fine? Going outside doesn't necessarily mean it's healthy.」
In short, if she's
telling me to pay attention to her because she can't play alone, she should go
bother Kachua or someone. I am busy right now. I hit the jackpot with an
adventure novel for the first time in a while, and was starting my third
read-through.
◇ ◆ ◇
After a while, Atomina-aneue
came in. It was still a time before noon.
「Ashley,
if you're taking the day off, you should say so properly! Now, let's go on a
picnic with your big sister!」
「A
picnic, huh, not bad. What about Georg-aniue?」
「Unfortunately,
he's working in the Imperial Capital today...」
「I
see...」
Without Aniue, it
doesn't feel like a siblings' vacation. Besides, Aneue is a meddler, so without
Aniue, there are no brakes.
「Oi
hey, wait! Isn't your attitude different between Wagahai and Atomina!?」
「I'm
sorry, Zirant-sama. My younger brother is always like this. He must
really love me very much.」
「Why
does it end up like that...」
I feel like I'll be
together with Zirant from now on until I die. But Aneue is different.
Whenever we end up parting ways, I want to make sure I have no regrets. It's
precious time.
「Mu...
It's fine if I call Georg, right...? I wouldn't mind helping out with an
errand of that level...」
「Is
that okay!? That's right, if it's Zirant-sama's request, that boy
shouldn't be able to refuse either! Please, call out Georg!」
It seems my mind was
read again. On one hand I'm happy, but on the other hand, thinking that
everything is leaking through, I wonder if she'll come to hate me if I think
unnecessary things.
『Umu,
do not mind it. There is no longer any room for doubt that you revere and love Wagahai
more than anyone else. I shall forgive whatever base passions you may harbor
for Wagahai.』
Well, there might be that aspect too. Somewhere in a corner of my heart. Thus, asking Zirant to contact him, Aneue and I ended up going on a picnic for the first time in a while.
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