Chapter 10 - 1-10
Sinkuk was looking up at that same night sky. Beside his robust body, lying on his back upon the plains, was the naked, lustrous body of a white woman.
It was Meira, the white woman, who had invited him, saying she had something to discuss. He had been led away to a deserted place. He had pressed her on what this discussion was about, but she was slow to bring it up. Sinkuk grew impatient. That impatience ignited a flame of lust. In that momentum, he had defiled her.
Meira was not a virgin. In other words, her claim of being a nun was a mere skin of lies. On the contrary, her flesh reacted to please a man, undulating white under the starlight. Her face, which had appeared saintly during the day, distorted precariously, performing the charms of a beautiful beast.
I am a fool. Sinkuk thought, gazing at the exceptionally bright stars. Knowing it was bait with a hook attached, he had bitten.
"What should I do?" Meira issued a blatant threat. "What ought I to do? Should I reveal this to the leader of our Holy St. Ander Salvation Mission?"
"Go ahead and make a fuss," Sinkuk laughed. "It means nothing to us. You give us weapons. We fight. We both get what we want. That is enough. Let me tell you, the tribal chief Salakesh relies on Zuft Wolf. That Zuft relies heavily on me as a wise counselor. Even if you make a scene, it will likely be in vain."
"I suppose so."
"Does it displease you? Surely not. More importantly—"
Ah, he was a fool. He was trying to plant unnecessary wisdom in this woman, who was clearly someone to be wary of.
"More importantly, I have taken a liking to you. You will provide new power. Become my wife."
"My husband resides in the heavens."
"You are not a nun, are you?"
"I am a nun."
"I will give you the world as a marriage dowry."
Meira did not laugh. She watched Sinkuk with blue eyes.
Sinkuk returned his gaze to the heavens. It was a beautiful night sky, where the stars scattered like mist.
"Everyone has likely forgotten. This plateau is—"
He spoke. That the Kandasyata Plateau, which joined the Kutai and Ishma tribes, was perhaps the world's largest and finest grassland. That whoever ruled this region from ancient times would be the Great Chieftain of the Kosa people—in other words, a King. The King of the Kosa would have an elite army under his banner and hold a monopoly on the interests of East-West trade. He would control the great rivers where the world's gold flows, and the trade routes, monopolizing wealth.
The world's greatest power. And gold.
Whoever conquered this plateau would obtain it.
"The conflict between the Kutai and Ishma tribes is not a struggle among the Kosa. It is the opening skirmish for dominating the entire world. I do not know what you were thinking when you approached us. I do not know with what intention you provide us with weapons and funds—"
He looked at Meira. The woman was tilting her head.
"Nor do I know what you will gain from it. However, there should be nothing greater than what I can provide."
Sinkuk was not saying all this seriously. If possible, he wanted Meira to laugh it off. However, the white woman did not laugh. She stared intently at Sinkuk.
He began to feel a strange sensation. Sinkuk thought it was no wonder he was being a fool. It seemed he had fallen for this woman. Something stirred deep within his body. It was not lust, but it overwhelmed Meira. If he did not do so, he felt he could not calm this excitement that felt like trembling, like fear.
The woman did not resist.
A long, long war was beginning. Thinking of that, Sinkuk drove himself into the woman. A land with nothing. Intertwined flesh was dyed in the pleasure of sensuality. The next day, that land would be soaked in blood. The day after that, too. The next year, and the year after that. For many years to come, in that land where war continues, there would be men and women clinging to each other, melting in sweetness.
He did not understand Meira. However, Sinkuk thought,
Perhaps I, too, shall dance upon this land as a stage.
Nearly one year later.
Urgil Necrat was chilled to the bone by Bishop Kofie's report.
"Meira?"
The Count repeated the name he was hearing for the first time.
"Yes. Meira." The Bishop crossed his arms, a wrinkle forming between his brows, and lowered his gaze.
It was night in the office of the Palen Cathedral. The candles stuck in the three-pronged candelabra grew flames like red horns. Outside the window, a beautiful summer was about to burn out. If one listened closely, the roaring of the wind could be heard. It was a wind of death that would dye the green of the lush trees the color of dead leaves overnight. It seemed autumn was approaching.
After agonizing to the point of dripping sweat, the Bishop moved a piece.
The two were seated across from each other, with a Northern Shogi called 'Ho' between them.
"Is that a woman?"
As Necrat moved a scorpion piece, the Bishop groaned.
"She is a woman."
"A nun, right?"
"No. I told you. Meira paired up with one of the Kutai tribe's generals. They married. Nuns can marry, can't they?"
"If she wasn't a nun, then who is she?"
"Just a woman." Bishop Kofie lowered an Itachi piece.
At that moment, Necrat's snake attacked fiercely.
"Wait."
"I will not wait. If she isn't a member of the clergy, then that means this Meira has no duty of confidentiality, does it not? If she doesn't keep our secrets—"
"Ha, to think there was a fool here who believes in monastic vows. Don't tremble, Count. As if she would speak."
"The nation of Handra-Ibina has fallen into the hands of the Kutai, hasn't it?"
"That is the point. Originally, there would be no reason for us to support the Kutai. It might be time to withdraw funds, but we cannot do that. It would mean cutting the strings of our puppet. Hey, pull back your snake. You're going to kill the movement of my Mouse."
Necrat reached out without hesitation, advancing a fox piece diagonally to put the King in check.
The Bishop made an overtly unpleasant face.
"The East won't be like this. It seems the Ishma tribe is formidable. Perhaps the war will drag on. Ten years, twenty years."
"You must be joking. Where would we get such money? We should withdraw immediately."
"If we do that, who will take the reins of the Kosa?"
Though wearing a sullen expression, Necrat was impressed by the Bishop's maneuvering. "Is that why you sent the woman?"
"Well, something like that. Either way, we cannot back down after coming this far. It seems the Ishma tribe also has a mastermind behind them. They are obtaining abundant funds."
"Who could it be?"
"Some country in the East, likely. Orom, Byo. The southern great power, Koroi, is the same. They extremely fear the unification of nomadic peoples. It is said that if such a movement occurs, they will immediately set up a rival to strike them down."
Necrat's sigh fluttered his mustache. "Are we fighting against countries we have never seen or heard of? This is a quagmire, isn't it?"
"You are the one who started this."
"I thought it would be settled a little sooner."
"Once the system of the southern cities providing tribute is established, our burden will decrease. Another game."
Necrat began to arrange the pieces, though he was unenthusiastic.
He envied the Bishop's audacity.
"Is there no sign of a breakthrough?"
"The strength of both tribes is equal. If only someone would appear who could overturn it all at once," the Bishop said with an expression devoid of tension. "Though things are moving unexpectedly quickly."
The two in the North do not yet know that such a person is currently growing.