2
“If I may speak to you, Lord Misturugi!”
As Klimt moved forward on his knees and raised his voice, sharp gazes from those around pierced him.
Klimt’s rank in the Blue Forest Eight Banners was seventh in the Seventh Banner. For a young warrior not yet twenty years old, he was more than exceptional, but from the perspective of the four ministers and eight chiefs present, he was still a greenhorn.
For Klimt to address the clan head Shikibu directly was an act that could not escape criticism for being presumptuous.
Klimt was well aware of this fact, of course. However, he couldn’t remain silent in this situation.
The words Sora had spoken when they crossed swords in Tittis Forest flashed through his mind:
“If you want to save Kuraia, you’d better fulfill my demands at the risk of your life. Otherwise, your sister will face a fate where she’ll be screaming that death would be better. I don’t need to explain why I hold the woman Kuraia as a hostage instead of you, a man, do I?”
Unknowingly, Klimt clenched his jaw tightly. Of course, Klimt had no intention of naively following Sora’s words.
Besides, no matter what Goz or Klimt might argue, there was no way Sora’s demands would be accepted. The Shikibu would certainly order Sora’s pursuit.
No matter how strong Sora was, or how powerful Sora’s inner existence might be, it would be impossible to repel all of the elite Eight Banners. Given this, regardless of how events unfolded, Sora’s ultimate defeat was certain.
For Klimt, it was necessary to rescue his sister Kuraia before the pursuit team made contact with Sora. If Sora learned that Onigashima had rejected the demands and sent a pursuit team, he would undoubtedly attack Kuraia without hesitation.
The question was whether the other flag bearers would share this view with Klimt.
If the flag bearers dispatched to pursue Sora would help Kuraia before the attack, there would be no problem. However, taking the risk of alerting the enemy to rescue a hostage – such a lenient way of fighting doesn’t exist in the military law of the Blue Forest Eight Banners.
If an innocent woman or child were taken hostage, it might be different, but Kuraia was a full-fledged Blue Forest flag bearer who had become a prisoner as a result of defeat. Therefore, whatever happened to her was the responsibility of the one who was defeated.
For example, if Klimt were a third party with no connection to the Beruhi family and was ordered by his lord to pursue Sora, would he show any consideration for Kuraia, who had become a hostage?
The answer is clear. He would focus all his efforts on eliminating the target without any consideration for the hostage’s safety. If the hostage survived as a result, that would be fine. If not, it would be due to the hostage’s own lack of skill, and Klimt would have no reason to feel guilty about it.
Knowing this, Klimt was about to appeal to the Shikibu, despite knowing it was presumptuous. He wanted to ask that not only the pursuit of Sora but also the protection of Kuraia be added to the requirements of this mission. If that wasn’t possible, he wanted to ask to be included in the pursuit team himself.
Normally, such actions should have been taken by Gilmore, the adoptive father of Klimt and Kuraia.
However, Gilmore was a man interested only in expanding the influence of the Beruhi family, and regardless of what he might say, Klimt knew that he viewed them merely as tools for advancement. Many of the children gathered as adopted children in the Beruhi family had been discarded like worn-out shoes halfway through their journeys.
Even one of the Golden Generation was nothing more than a disposable tool to their adoptive father. Much less would Gilmore give a second thought to someone who had been defeated and become a prisoner. Only Klimt, as her brother, could save Kuraia. It was the result of Klimt’s desperate thinking that led him to try to appeal directly to the head of the family, knowing it was disrespectful.
However, in conclusion, Klimt wasn’t able to make a single word of direct appeal to his lord.
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Just as Klimt advanced on his knees, about to plead with the Shikibu for his sister’s protection, a strong impact struck Klimt’s head.
There was no time to react. He didn’t even know what had happened. When he realized it, Klimt’s head had been slammed against the tatami mat. As he writhed silently in pain so intense he hallucinated that his skull had been shattered, a voice as clear as crystal slid into his ears.
“Fool. By what right does a mere flag bearer show disrespect to the lord?”
The one stepping on Klimt’s head with his left foot was the white-skinned, black-haired swordsman who had been sitting to the right of the Shikibu just a moment ago.
First Banner, First Rank. Diart-Beruhi, who was tasked with taking command of the Blue Forest Eight Banners in place of the head of the family in times of emergency.
He was the biological son of Magistrate Gilmore and Klimt’s older brother. However, neither Klimt nor Kuraia had ever called Diart “brother.”
In the Beruhi family, everything from education to meals was different for biological children and adopted children. Moreover, Diart was the next head of the family and the First Banner General. The difference in treatment between him and Klimt and the others was like night and day.
“I… I’m sorry—gah!?”
Klimt tried to apologize, but his words were cut off again by Diart. In the form of being forcibly made to kiss the tatami mat.
“Silence. You don’t even have the right to speak in this place.”
Know your place. Saying this, Diart increased the pressure on his foot. Unable to withstand the pressure, the floor could be heard creaking beneath the tatami mat. Or perhaps it was the sound of Klimt’s skull creaking.
It was just as Goz, who had been listening to the exchange between the brothers up close, was about to move, thinking that this must be stopped.
Suddenly, Klimt’s figure disappeared from Goz’s field of vision. As if sinking into the shadow reflected on the tatami mat, Klimt’s body vanished.
After Klimt’s figure disappeared, Diart’s left foot touched the tatami mat, but the foot wrapped in tabi socks firmly pressed down on the tatami. Naturally, there was no sign of it sinking in at all.
So where had Klimt, who had been there just a moment ago, disappeared to?
“Isn’t this punishment a bit excessive, Flag General?”
The one who said this was the owner of brown skin and dull-colored hair sitting to the left of the head of the family, Shikibu.
First Banner, Second Rank. The young head of the Kumon family, one of the most prestigious families in Onigashima, and at the same time serving as the vice-general of the First Banner, Kumon Shukuya.
In front of Shukuya lay Klimt, groaning. By some means, Shukuya had instantly transported Klimt, who had been pinned down by Diart, to in front of himself.
Diart responded to Shukuya without even raising an eyebrow.
“That disrespectful one is a member of our family. There’s no need for restraint in punishing a family disgrace.”
“I have no intention of interfering with the Beruhi family law, but now is the time for deliberation. We shouldn’t hinder the lord’s contemplation.”
In contrast to Diart, who kept his expression as still as a Noh mask, Shukuya admonished his superior with a likable smile.
Moreover, Shukuya continued:
“Besides, his real sister has been captured by the enemy. We should overlook some disrespect. I don’t think I could remain calm if I were in his position. Especially when the enemy is the young master—”
At that point, Shukuya seemed to realize something and fell silent. Then, he looked apologetically at Raguna, who was sitting in a corner of the room.
“Excuse me. Not the young master, but the former young master. If what Goz says is true, and the former young master has gained enough power to slay a dragon species, this is quite a complicated situation. We must be careful not to act hastily.”
“Your consideration is unnecessary. Kuraia fell into enemy hands due to her own immaturity. Can we uphold the law of demon suppression and god sealing while valuing the life of an immature person?”
As Diart responded, Shukuya shook his head while maintaining his smile.
“Kuraia is indeed a member of the Beruhi family, but she is also a flag bearer of the Mitsurugi family. I think it would be too wasteful to lose a corner of the Golden Generation, who holds great potential, in a place like this.”
Saying this, Shukuya turned his body towards Shikibu beside him and bowed his head deeply.
“My lord, if it pleases you, could you entrust this task to me? I would like to negotiate with the former young master, release Kuraia, and bring both of them before you.”
If Sora were to refuse, then the matter could be settled by force – Shukuya didn’t say this out loud, but everyone present understood his implication. And everyone judged that Shukuya could undoubtedly do it.
Originally, Shikibu shows no interest in events outside the island. With one of the Twin Pillars volunteering, the matter seemed as good as decided – for those who thought this way, Shikibu’s next words were unexpected.
“It cannot be. Recently, the Demon Gate has been restless. It’s a sign that chaos may arise. I cannot send you, Shukuya, away from the island at such a time.”
This answer seemed unexpected even to Shukuya, who responded with wide eyes.
“The Demon Gate… I apologize, I didn’t notice. I regret making an unnecessary suggestion.”
“It’s fine. The signs are still faint. Nothing will happen today or tomorrow. But it’s not a matter of half a year or a year from now either. The Blue Forest Eight Banners must be prepared to respond to any situation.”
“Yes, sir!”
Not just Shukuya, but Diart and the other flag generals and vice-generals responded in unison.
At this point, Gilmore spoke up.
“My lord, how shall we handle this matter then?”
If there was movement at the Demon Gate, they couldn’t move the Twin Pillars, of course, or the other flag generals and vice-generals. On the other hand, sending regular flag bearers would likely result in the same outcome as Goz and the others.
While everyone was racking their brains, Shikibu calmly responded to his subordinate’s question.
“Tell Sora to come to the island. If his ability to slay a dragon species is true, then entrusting him with one or two demon people shouldn’t be a problem.”
Hearing this, Goz raised his face with an “I see” expression.
Regardless of the reason, he was glad that Shikibu had chosen not to fight against Sora.
“My Lord, then I shall go to the Canaria Kingdom and persuade Lord Sora—”
“Unnecessary.”
“…Huh?”
Goz, who had spoken with enthusiasm, blinked in confusion as his words were abruptly cut off.
Addressing the bewildered Goz, Shikibu continued as if it were nothing:
“There’s no need for you, the Shiba, to go in person. A letter will suffice.”
“But… My Lord, I believe Lord Sora won’t come to the island with just that.”
Goz recalled Sora’s hostile gaze when they confronted each other in the Canaria Kingdom. Even if they sent a letter stating that they would demonstrate their strength if Sora came to Onigashima, and that they could be entrusted with the Oni people, Sora would never come.
Moreover, upon reading such a letter, Sora might conclude that his demands had been rejected and harm the hostage, Kuraia.
In response to Goz’s concerns, Shikibu had an unexpected answer prepared.
“It doesn’t matter. Send the letter. Specify a date for him to come to the island.”
“A date, my Lord?”
“Yes.”
The moment Goz heard the date Shikibu mentioned, his eyes widened as he understood his lord’s intention.
Goz wasn’t the only one to react; several others also realized Shikibu’s aim and showed surprise.
That date was one month from today. The season when summer ends and autumn begins.
It was the anniversary of Sora’s mother, Shizuya Mitsurugi’s death.
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