Chapter 31 - 3-8
"You're up early."
Dash called out to his young master as he descended the stairs.
The young master gave a spirited "Yeah" and walked toward the dining room.
This boarding house, nicknamed the "Black Feather Manor" by the neighbors, also served as a regular lodging for traveling merchants from the Carossa region. This morning, three merchants were eating breakfast at the large dining table before their departure.
Into this scene stepped the scion of the lord, who casually sat at the same table with a "Hey." Yugis, though mindful of his position, began asking the merchants—who were his own subjects—about the state of their hometowns. Knowing he would be laughed at later if he acted arrogant, the scion's manner was polite.
Dash plated some bread that had begun to harden and a chicory salad, then brought it to his master. Yugis looked at Dash and, unusually, began to lecture him.
"Hey, what was that about yesterday?"
It seemed he was displeased that Dash had been trembling while delivering the letter from the royal palace.
"You say that, but it's Malfa Castle, sir. If you were to wander around without permission and get scolded, you wouldn't have any face left to save."
"That's not the point. Dash, I'll say this once, so carve it into your heart. We are currently at war. Think of it that way. You are a messenger. If a messenger is too ashamed to enter his own camp, victory will only drift further away—what is this bread? I can't bite through it."
"Military rations are meant to be hard. War is a cruel thing, isn't it?"
Yugis had scored a point and felt smug, but the word "war" left an ominous impression on the servant.
Yesterday, Yugis had returned with a bruise around his left eye. Apparently, he had been in a fight. When asked for the reason, he had been basking in a sense of dandyism, saying things like, "I was done in by a woman."
—I just hope he hasn't gotten mixed up in something strange.
After seeing off his master as he headed for the castle, Dash put the laundry in a basket and went to the well.
There was a small courtyard within the manor, where the well and laundry area were located.
As he crouched down to begin washing, Meel-san lined up beside him, carrying a basket of her own. Recently, Dash had spent this happy time every morning. He found himself wishing this time could last for a lifetime.
"A guest from earlier left some gold coins for Yugis-sama."
It seemed the story of Yugis Necrat being punished and falling into poverty had reached Carossa. The number of lodging guests giving donations was increasing.
"Didn't they say it was for war funds?"
The niece of the boarding house landlady looked puzzled. Dash told her about the previous conversation.
"Then he must certainly be at war with Sedias Thora-sama." Meel-san laughed with a cute voice. "After all, he was punched hard enough to get a bruise."
"Ah, I see. That bruise was that kind of—Sedias Thora?"
Dash looked up.
Meel-san had her hand over her mouth, bending her back as she laughed.
"I heard such rumors at the morning market."
"Meel-san."
"Is something the matter?"
"Please tell me more about that story."
That morning, the very air felt different from usual.
An old man came to the stables and gathered the attendants in one place.
"From this day forth, the training for the King's School shall begin."
When the old man spoke in his archaic manner, the boys let out a collective shout.
Leading the boys in a single file, the old man—who appeared to be a castle servant—entered the Royal Army barracks. About thirty people waiting along the way joined them, forming a procession of about forty. Yugis saw only faces he had never seen before. He was surprised. There had been ten people at most washing horses, and it was the same group every day. Where the hell did these guys come from?
"They look like the children of vassals."
Yugis later learned that Haider's guess was correct. Vassals were the vassals of vassals, influential figures who only held power within the framework of regional governments. He hadn't known that people of that rank could enter the King's School, but upon hearing where they were from, Yugis understood. Every one of them was from the West. Even among the attendants, there was such a divide between the West and the East.
However, at the time, he didn't know that. The majority were put into a place like a large dormitory, while the horse-washing group was guided to a separate room. He thought they were special.
There were nine in the horse-washing group. The old man acting as guide instructed them—
—The instructor is present, so please wait.
Then he trotted out of the classroom.
The room had four rows of long tables and chairs. It was luxurious equipment. When he was taught reading and writing at Adaberta Castle, they had spread straw on the floor and sat upon it. Yugis sat at the same table as Haider and Cloden.
"You're quite patient, aren't you?"
Being spoken to, Yugis looked up. There was an obese boy. Kashu Coil. Since the horse-washing period had been long, Yugis remembered most of the names and faces.
"If I'd been given a bruise like that, I would have punched back."
Everyone gathered around to see Yugis's face.
"I endured it," Yugis answered Kashu. "One must cherish the elderly."
"Was the rumor true?" the one who asked was a boy who looked like a pampered young master with neatly trimmed bangs, Raslaf Dravar. He was said to come from a very wealthy family.
Yugis told the events of yesterday in an amusing way.
"You reaped what you sowed." The one speaking indignantly was the younger of the Mengel brothers, Zett Mengel. He had a round face and hair cropped short like a monk's. "I heard what you did to Princess Lucy. It was a story too stimulating for a virgin."
Confused, Yugis said something that offered no comfort to anyone: "I'm a virgin too."
"A soiled virgin. In your case."
"Sorry, Necrat," the elder Mengel brother, Raidi Mengel, apologized. He was a fashionable, handsome youth. "This guy is just serious."
Zeal Androsh spoke in a low voice.
"So, do you intend to just stay beaten?"
Zeal Androsh was a thin boy with a small scar on his chin, and there was a rumor that he had experience killing people.
"You ask strange things." Yugis limited himself to a thin smile.
Zeal looked toward Haider. Haider shrugged. Just then, a man who appeared to be the instructor entered the doorless classroom. He was a small man in his forties with prominent premature gray hair—likely shorter than Yugis.
Without giving a single glance to the students who began to take their seats in unison, he went straight to the window, crossed his arms, and looked outside. He had the inverted-triangle back common to trained soldiers.
He stared outside for a very long time.
As the room began to buzz, the instructor glared at the students.
The classroom fell silent. After an unnervingly long silence—
—I am Norbert Kabert.
With his arms still crossed, the instructor spoke.
"You scraps."
He moved away from the window, walked with short steps, and stood before everyone.
"You will become infantry. You will become numbers to be counted by the generals. Do not think you can become numbers for free! If you do not train, you will not become numbers sufficient for the generals' calculations."
Norbert Kabert spoke about the lessons. First, basic physical conditioning. Next, training with the bow. Swordsmanship and hand-to-hand combat as well. What Cloden had told Yugis was true. It seemed they would not be taught horsemanship or the use of the horse lance, which were the skills of knights. They were truly being treated as infantry.
"Everyone in this room is a child of the East. You must hate Sedias Thora."
Instructor Kabert said something bold.
"However, your seniors endured the same frustration. Do not let their patience go to waste. To serve Sedias Thora is to serve His Majesty!"
There was one brave boy.
"Excuse me, Instructor-dono."
The boy who stood up was Udoh Renne. He was tall with a long torso. His arms also stretched out long and limp. He had a sagging face like an eggplant.
"Will ya be doin' any classroom study? I'm still halfway through me basic math and letters."
"We will not. Be taught by someone else." Instructor Kabert was blunt.
Haider quickly raised his hand. "I shall provide instruction."
"Now we're talkin'." Udoh Renne smiled at Haider. He had a gentle expression, but everyone who had attended the horse-washing knew that this boy possessed monstrous strength—he had once pinned down a horse that had gone wild.
"Classroom study, indeed." Instructor Kabert raised his chin. White hairs were prominent in his goatee. "It is not necessary. To be taught something by someone is to let that someone touch the contents of your head. Do you lot want to let Sedias Thora touch your heads?"
A sense of bewilderment flowed through the classroom.
Norbert Kabert's words were somewhat suggestive.
Training would begin tomorrow. They were to arrive by eight o'clock.
The instructor said this and left the classroom with restless, short steps. The boys began to buzz in unison.
"Is it okay?" Cloden asked in a low voice.
Yugis nodded.
Cloden cleared his throat and raised his voice. "Listen up for a second."
He wanted to hold a gathering to celebrate the start of the course, invited everyone to attend, and said not to worry about the payment. The location of the shop was—.
"What, the Golden Rooster Tavern? The taste there is just so-so." The obese Kashu Coil gave an opinion like that of a gourmet. "I wouldn't choose that place. It's expensive."
"You don't need to worry about money," Cloden said. "Right, Necrat?"
"Yeah, leave it to me."
Yugis stood up along with Haider.
The manor owned by Marquis Kraff within Malfa city was located on the north side in the shade, in what could be called the back entrance of Malfa Castle.
Yugis and Haider walked through the deserted manor district, noisily critiquing the appearance of the lined-up mansions. They soon found the manor of Marquis Laiel Gilmond. They were greeted by a familiar servant.
"It's been a while," Yugis called out to the servant. There was no reply. This servant had been taciturn since long ago.
They were shown into the old Marquis's office.
Without much waiting, the door to the adjacent room opened. Old Man Gilmond cleared his throat and sat in the chair at his writing desk. His hair and beard were pure white. He had aged considerably in the short time they hadn't seen him.
"To stem the recent tendency of today's youth to be infected by the city air and fall into shameless depravity, I believe I have whipped and trained you. And yet you... weak! Weak, frail, and you have forgotten your gratitude. To think you come to greet me only now! You should have visited me first thing upon entering the capital!"
Yugis and Haider were made to sit in chairs before the large desk. Even being scolded like this felt nostalgic and pleasing. However, they could not show smiles. They tightened their cheeks and received the reprimand.
"Grandfather," Yugis intervened at the right moment. "We wanted to come as well."
"Indeed," Haider followed.
"But we could not come empty-handed."
"We thought a souvenir was necessary."
"Did you bring grapes from Belgau? Ho, where are they? I don't see any?"
"Grandfather's throat would not be moistened by mere grapes," Haider began to speak quietly.
Haider knew how to handle this old man.
Haider spoke of the cold treatment of the East in Malfa city and the tyranny of the Thora family. Haider stated what he had seen and heard in the capital, analyzed it dispassionately, and presented his view of the current situation.
Since it had been decided that Haider would speak, Yugis listened in silence. Marquis Laiel Gilmond gradually began to get excited.
"It goes without saying! It goes without saying, Haider!"
"Grandfather, we wish to carry out justice—"
The grandfather raised a white eyebrow as if struck in the chest.
"We have brought an opportunity to manifest that justice; that is the souvenir."
Haider spoke of buying up the debts of the Royal Army. The old Marquis finally lowered his raised eyebrow.
"You intend to harass them?"
"The attendants wish to first show the citizens that they are carrying out justice."
The old Marquis cast his gaze toward the door leading to the adjacent room. A flicker of an anxious expression was glimpsed for a moment.
Yugis looked at the door. It was a perfectly ordinary door.
"How much do you need?"
"Ten thousand to start. Separately from that, we would like to take back about fifty Gilan."
Laiel Gilmond stood from his chair and paced back and forth in front of Yugis and the other.
"People will die."
"They probably will," Yugis said before Haider could say anything.
Regarding this, he wanted to take responsibility.
"Even so, I believe it should be done."
Dash was startled and pulled his ear away from the door.
Count Urgil Necrat, who had been eavesdropping in the same way, conversely pressed his ear further against the door.
Dash had come to the Necrat family manor to tell the Lord—Count Necrat of Carossa—the story he had heard from Meel-san. The Lord was absent. He had been told the Lord had gone to visit Old Man Laiel Gilmond. He had headed to the old Marquis's manor and was guided to the office where the Lord and Old Man Gilmond were chatting. Like a messenger on a battlefield, Dash had shouted that there were signs of an explosion from the scion.
"An explosion?" Count Carossa's mustache twitched.
"The scion has a terrible bruise around his eye, and the story is that he received it from the Lord of the Thora family, and so—"
It was around the time he finished explaining.
Unexpectedly, Yugis himself arrived along with Haider Skyner-sama. Dash hurriedly hid in the room adjacent to the office together with the Lord.
The Lord knelt on one knee, licking his lips while eavesdropping on the conversation in the office.
Eventually, he stood up and moved away from the door.
"Dash," Count Carossa began, stroking his mustache. "Do not interfere with what Yugis does. Keep a face that knows nothing. However, if the situation moves, report it to me. And also—"
"Aren't you going to stop him?"
The Count snorted.
"And also, if Yugis's life is put in danger—Yugis's life may be targeted. Listen, if that happens, let Yugis escape. He will likely rush toward death, but soothe him, trick him, and let him flee somewhere."
"But, h-how?"
Urgil Necrat let something reminiscent of a smile drift through his mustache.
"Put him on a ship," he said, looking at Dash. "Send him to a foreign country. He would probably be happy. He's a foolish child. I will take all the responsibility. Dash, I leave him to you."
Dash placed one knee on the floor and bowed his head.
—I humbly acknowledge your command.
When he replied, he felt a heavy weight. It was the first time he had received such an order.