Chapter 308: History is Made in the Shadows
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 308: History is Made in the Shadows
Military State Inner Circle Command, Joint Headquarters.
This building, towering in the very center of the command complex, was surprisingly plain for its prestigious name. Its only distinguishing feature was its exterior, clad in alchemic steel, which was why it remained unscathed even as the wooden snake had rampaged.
Before I even entered, a sharp argument was already underway inside.
“This is unprecedented! A summit with the very enemy who just overran our command headquarters! Is this not the same as tucking our tails and running before we've even fought?!”
An elderly general shouted, pointing an accusatory finger. His dignified, Qi-infused roar had the power to make the steel-clad building reverberate, but the person it was aimed at simply brushed it off.
“This is a first for me, too. I came here for a summit, expecting you to have set another trap, but all you're doing is sitting me down and yelling.”
“You...! You young whelp, there's nothing you won't say! If it weren't for my orders, I'd teach you a lesson right now!”
“Go on, try it. That would be easier for me, anyway.”
Sparks flew from the eyes of several generals. The Regressor was stirring up trouble again today. Are you made of flint? Causing sparks every time you clash with something.
Sighing, I opened the door and said, “Now, now, Generals. Don't stand around glaring at one little kid like that. It looks like a bunch of old men hazing a newcomer, and it's not a good look.”
“And who are you?!”
In that instant, their fierce gazes turned on me. My chest tightened. Hmph, the aura of a general, a high-ranking one at that, is bad for your health. Frail as I am, I subtly hid behind Historia to avoid the unspoken pressure.
“...is what Historia was saying, anyway.”
“Historia! Traitor to the Military State!”
“What could you have possibly lacked that made you forsake the State?!”
The hostility immediately shifted to Historia.
They usually wouldn't fall for such a childish trick, but perhaps it was because the target was Historia. The generals glared at her as if she were their mortal enemy. Or perhaps like they were looking resentfully at a daughter who'd been deceived by some scoundrel and run away from home.
Historia shot me a sideways glance and muttered, “...No matter how I look at it, I'm definitely being ostracized.”
After giving the generals a perfunctory salute, Historia headed toward the Regressor with me in tow.
The Regressor, who had been sitting there all alone, acknowledged our presence.
“What took you so long? I was stuck dealing with these old guys by myself. Tsk, it would've been easier if we just fought. Talking is such a pain.”
“Try thinking about solving things with words instead of fists for once. A good conversation can resolve most issues smoothly.”
As I pulled up a chair and sat down, the Regressor shot me a look and her lips moved silently.
'Skyblade Art, Sound Transmission.'
The Regressor's voice then whispered directly into my ear.
[...Like with that monstrous creature who called himself an Camarilla?]
“He's not a monstrous creature. He's human, just like us. And he's someone who cooperated fully to help us resolve our conflict.”
[Hmph. You helped Tyrkanzyaka get her heart back, and you helped that creature find himself? What the hell are you? Some kind of errand boy for a lost and found?]
“Something like that. As I've mentioned from time to time, I'm a magician. I excel at reading and swaying people's minds.”
[You talk a big game. If you're so confident, why don't you show off your skills this time, too?]
Okay, message received.
“Alright. But before that, Shei-ssi, could you stop whispering in my ear? It's a little embarrassing for two men. I understand the importance of whispering, but it sounds like your mouth is right next to my ear, and it kind of tickles.”
“W-what?”
“I don't usually think this way about other men, but I have this... particular impression of you, Shei-ssi, so I can't help but blush.”
“That's not it! I'm not interested either! Stop spouting bullshit with that deadpan face!”
Just then, Azzy, who had been on standby outside the door, peeked her head in.
“Woof?”
“I wasn't calling for you!”
Azzy tilted her head, then disappeared from view again. I gave a slight bow to the fuming Regressor.
“How was that? You see, I can cause this much of a stir with just a few words.”
Finally realizing she'd been played, the Regressor fumed, her face red.
“Don't do it to me! Do it to them!”
“They're all old soldiers. There's nothing to tease them about.”
“Are you saying there is with me?!”
Just as the Regressor was about to grab me by the collar, someone else entered. It was a man with an unremarkable, plain face, the kind you wouldn't remember. Dressed in a pitch-black uniform with no medals, even his buttons painted black, 'Zigrund' spoke with a deadpan expression.
“It's noisy. If you're so eager to have a private chat, do it outside... Ah, my mistake.”
What's with her? I thought she was going off on a tangent for a second. When did she finish changing her disguise? Hilde, now disguised as 'Zigrund', glanced at the Regressor and muttered.
“If it's between two men, I suppose you couldn't do it outside.”
“Hey!”
“Ah, I stand corrected. It's a sin you shouldn't commit, inside or out.”
“I'm telling you, it's not like that!”
Unlike the flaring Regressor, the generals were pleased to see him.
“General Zigrund. We've been waiting!”
“My apologies for the delay. It took some time to gather information and hear the opinion of the Chief Command. I've brought something that you officers will find satisfactory, so leave this summit to me.”
'Zigrund' said as much and headed for the head of the table. Meanwhile, the thoroughly provoked Regressor pointed a finger at 'Zigrund' and yelled.
“Look who's talking! Why do you look like that?! You were a short girl just a moment ago!”
It was the Regressor's attempt at a triumphant counterattack, but Zigrund coolly parried it while fiddling with some documents.
“No matter how much you enjoy the company of men, don't project your ideal type onto me. Or is it not your ideal type, but your identity?”
“No, you were clearly in disguise...”
But no one paid his words any mind. The generals, their anger momentarily forgotten, pointed at the Regressor and whispered amongst themselves.
“The Camarilla is a girl?”
“What nonsense is this?”
“Is it a type of Qi Art that has side effects on the brain? That would explain it. I thought his achievements were too great for someone his age.”
The more he spoke the truth, the more he was treated like he was insane. Frustrated by this injustice, the Regressor now looked at me with a sliver of hope.
'Show them what you've got! This is your chance to shine!'
I faithfully lived up to his expectations.
“Shei-ssi, when you're trying to slander someone, being entertaining is more important than being truthful. Even if such a truth existed, it's too random and uninteresting for them to accept, so of course they won't react. You should try doing it like me.”
“So you do know what you're doing to me is slander!”
Meanwhile, Historia, sitting next to me, muttered with a bitter expression.
“...Looking at Cutie now, I can't help but sympathize.”
“I told you not to call me that! You don't know anything!”
“I know his true form, too. I understand your situation, so there's no need to explain.”
“Oh, uh, you do...?”
'Then... are we comrades...?'
Don't get so emotional over something like that. Your emotional ignition point is ridiculously low.
Meanwhile, 'Zigrund', standing at the center of the controversy, straightened a stack of papers and spoke.
“From the beginning, the Chief Command had no desire for unnecessary conflict with these individuals. The losses from a direct confrontation would be immense, and there is little to be gained from fighting despite those risks. We attempted to drive you out with threats or resolve this with minimal espionage. All attempts failed, however.”
“Grrr...! What is the reason for these atrocities?”
“To prevent a war, they say.”
Bang. A general slammed her fist on the table. The round table, which must have been three meters in diameter, tilted and was about to flip over when the Regressor subtly placed her Jizan on the edge. The table, which had been lifting, was pressed down by the Jizan. It shuddered for a moment before instantly settling down.
Having lost the battle of wills, the general shouted, his pride slightly wounded.
“Ridiculous! Are you still putting up a smokescreen? You can't possibly expect us to call off a matter of national importance as if it were child's play. State your true objective!”
“Hmph. Right. You wouldn't believe it. I knew you'd...”
“Whether we can believe you is not important. Distrust is a general's duty, and the Military State always judges by its own standards. This decision, too, is based on the State's standards.”
'Zigrund's' voice had a strange resonance to it, making one feel compelled to listen. Having cut off both the general and the Regressor, 'Zigrund' continued.
“First, I will state the damages from this recent attack. Casualties among the regular soldiers were not significant, but our entire stockpile of Chimera Beans, our military provisions, has been lost. They turned into that wooden snake, so they cannot be salvaged. This has caused a major disruption to our ability to wage war.”
“Was that not all the work of these intruders?!”
“No. It is the power of the druids who protect the Tree of Corruption.”
'Zigrund' cut off the general's protestations.
“Juji Forest, the holding company in charge of food improvement. On our orders, they risked their lives to approach the Tree of Corruption and returned with a great prize: the Chimera Beans. Thanks to them, the Military State was able to overcome its food shortage. However, as you all know, the guardian of the burnt World Tree resides at the Tree of Corruption.”
In the middle of the lush forest that spreads to the south of the Military State stands a single, towering tree. After the World Tree burned and fell in a certain incident, the Tree of Corruption took root in its ashes and rose in its place.
Rumor had it that every fruit in the world grew from that one tree, so the Military State dispatched an investigation team. They returned, having discovered... or perhaps invented, the Chimera Beans, one of the Seven Major Inventions of the Military State.
Of course, Nevida had given her tacit approval during that process, but these men wouldn't know that.
“The druid, Nevida...?”
“But Nevida said she didn't care what was planted outside the Forest of Corruption! Why would she come after us now over the Chimera Beans?”
“I do not know the specifics. Not even I know everything. Perhaps these intruders brought her here. However, we must fully consider this threat, and we have reason to observe the situation for now. That is the decisive reason this summit is taking place.”
The generals disliked the very situation of the Military State being shaken by an external threat. However, as soldiers, they knew that while a two-front war against an enemy nation might be possible, a two-front war against a food shortage was not.
'Zigrund' turned her back to them and declared to the Regressor, “Therefore, the Chief Command has decided on a temporary ceasefire.”
It was a de facto declaration of surrender. The generals cleared their throats in displeasure. At the same time, a shocked retort burst from the Regressor.
“What? Really? The Military State? Is agreeing to a ceasefire?”
“Is that not what your side has been persistently demanding? Is there a problem? Or do you perhaps have another, hidden objective?”
As 'Zigrund' asked sharply, the Regressor, who had half-risen from her seat, settled back down and feigned composure.
“No, I was just wondering if you'd finally come to your senses.”
'What? Are they really doing this? Until now, they wouldn't stop even if I beat them to death—I mean, even when I destroyed them in every way imaginable!'
Maybe they didn't stop precisely because you were trying to beat them to death, Regressor? Your method for stopping a war is to destroy the country. How is that any different from killing people to stop them from fighting, on the basis that dead men can't fight?
“However, there are conditions.”
“Of course. I'd expect nothing less from you. What are they?”
'Don't trust them. This is the Military State. They're probably planning something weird again! Are they going to ask for the impossible? Is this a ploy to separate us so they can deal with the immediate crisis?'
Surprisingly, it was none of those. As if mocking the highly wary Regressor, 'Zigrund' presented a reasonable condition.
“This summit was held at your side's request. Therefore, you will go to the Fallen Dominion yourselves and achieve the peace you desire. If you truly wish for peace, you will not refuse this proposal.”
In a way, it was like giving them the authority to do whatever they wanted. But the generals who were listening were inwardly impressed.
'So that's the plan!'
'The Fallen Dominion is just as unreasonable. They won't accept this treaty easily. But if we send these people, we can pin all the friction from the negotiations on them!'
As expected of generals. They have some political acumen. Now, what about the Regressor...
'The Fallen Dominion... a summit... I'll have to deal with those lunatics... They're such a pain. Ah. Is that what they're aiming for?'
Oh, he didn't figure it out through political acumen, but purely from his own experiences. I guess extremely repetitive experiences can become a form of insight.
“...Hoh. So you're trying to dump the annoying work on us? And maybe get us to provoke them a little while we're at it?”
“A relief you're not as stupid as you look.”
“Whatever. You're pretty high and mighty for someone who just tucked their tail in fear.”
'Well, I have things to gain in the Fallen Dominion, so I don't mind. They'll probably accept the ceasefire. In the last timeline, they were defeated so miserably their lands were overrun in just seven days. The problem is... even if the negotiations succeed, will the Military State accept the outcome...'
The Regressor asked, her voice full of suspicion, “Well, I don't mind doing it. But what if you go back on your word, claiming the negotiations didn't go as you pleased?”
'Zigrund' nodded and replied.
“Of course. This is a matter between nations. There's no way people like you, who are closer to terrorists than officials of the State, would know anything about the practical details. I understand your concern.”
“I'm not worried that I can't do the job! I'm worried because it'll be a pain in the ass if you ignore the results!”
“Your priorities are wrong. Shouldn't you be worried about your own incompetence first?”
“You're the only one who's got their priorities mixed up!”
Sorry, I was also worried you couldn't do the job. Count me in, too.
“We will assign a key figure from our nation to accompany you. They are an excellent functionary and will also serve as a hostage.”
“The Military State has key figures? First I'm hearing of it. You people don't even seem to care about your generals.”
“We do. The fact that you don't know proves that the State's information control is working well.”
'Zigrund' turned her head sharply. Although he had more or less gotten what he wanted, the Regressor's face twisted with a strange sense of defeat.
'That bastard, she never loses a verbal spar...! Tsk, if I had just destroyed the Military State this time around, I could have at least punched her!'
Hey, don't try to destroy a country for a reason like that.
Having said her piece, 'Zigrund' turned to the remaining generals.
“Do any of you have further questions?”
“Is the summit over, just like that?”
“There is a little more. However, you must all leave for what comes next.”
“Why is that?”
“Because we will now be discussing the 'hostage' who will guarantee these negotiations. If you all know the hostage's identity, their value will diminish.”
“Mmm... Understood.”
The convinced generals nodded and left the headquarters. As they flung the door open, every one of them shot a sharp glare in my and Historia's direction.
'That damn scoundrel...!'
'Dammit. This is why you can't entrust important duties to young punks! They just mess things up with their hot-headedness!'
It seems I've earned quite a bit of resentment. It'll probably be difficult to live in the Military State from now on.
And so, the outsiders left, leaving only the relevant parties in the Joint Headquarters meeting room. A moment of silence passed.
“Phew, I'm exhausted!”
Hilde, who had reverted to her true form at some point, let out a deep sigh and draped herself over the round table.