15. The Empire's Three Seats (1)
15. The Empire's Three Seats (1)
Dawn Revolutionary Group.
Commander's Office.
A woman with crimson hair.
The group's commander Cassiela was staring fixedly at a single sheet of paper. It was an article from the Imperial newspaper.
-An unidentified noble who punished an act of treason in the city of Akan.
-Akan's guards spoke with one voice. A man with ash-gray hair saved their city, then vanished without a trace.
-The drug lord known as the Underground King, Bellek, who led the treason, was reported to have died instantly at the scene.
-Bellek was a figure who spread narcotics throughout the entire city and expanded his influence...
It was a newspaper issued two days ago.
Cassiela was certain the ash-gray-haired man in the article was the very same Yuma she had encountered on the magic train.
Yuma, who had introduced himself as the Sword of the 1st Imperial Princess.
The words he had spoken still echoed vividly in her mind.
-Your revolution is wrong. Commander of the Dawn Revolutionary Group.
"...Huu."
A deep sigh escaped Cassiela's lips.
"Now I understand why you said such a thing."
She had dreamed of a misguided revolution.
A revolution that could drag in innocent people.
Yet this man had carried out justice right before her eyes.
If the 1st Imperial Princess Brigitte, not the First Prince Schubertche, ascended the Imperial Throne, that in itself would be an event one could call a revolution.
Revolution.
This man, unlike herself, was trying to carry out a true revolution.
Cassiela felt a shiver run through her.
"...Will I be permitted to follow your revolution?"
Cassiela asked herself.
And after making her decision, she summoned every member of the revolutionary group to the conference room.
A total of 32 revolutionary members.
All of them were outstanding individuals with skills that would be recognized anywhere, or various other talents. However, they were people who disliked the current Empire and chose to raise the flag of revolution.
They were people who held blind faith in Cassiela.
This was because Cassiela had personally saved half of them, the oppressed and the weak.
The gender ratio was roughly half and half. Every revolutionary member was staring intently at Cassiela.
Jebeok.
Cassiela walked from the center of the conference room toward the door.
She pulled out the massive flag planted right next to the door.
It was a flag with a red background, painted with a gold circle representing the sun.
The flag that had been the symbol of the Dawn Revolutionary Group until now.
Cassiela took that flag.
Jjwaa-ak!
And tore it apart.
The eyes of every revolutionary member widened into circles.
It was a natural reaction, since she had suddenly torn apart the symbol of the Dawn.
Cassiela's low, beautiful voice settled over the conference room.
"We will create a new flag. A red background with a gold sword upon it."
Cassiela placed onto the table the newspaper containing the article she had just been reading, the story of the hero who saved Akan.
Cassiela continued speaking.
"This man is Yuma, the Sword of the 1st Imperial Princess Brigitte, who blocked our path previously on the magic train Heilro."
The members, stunned, began taking turns reading the article.
"From now on, the revolutionary group will carry out the same justice as this man. Clear justice that no one can deny. And our top priority will also be to seat Her Highness the 1st Imperial Princess Brigitte on the Imperial Throne."
The members were bewildered.
Since their objective had suddenly turned toward the next imperial authority.
One member spoke in a low voice.
"Just because the 1st Imperial Princess sits on the throne, will the Empire change? As this very article shows, the Empire is corrupt."
"I believe that is a problem to consider after the 1st Imperial Princess is on the throne. We will expand our stake by any means. We will increase our influence until we can boldly propose something to the 1st Imperial Princess."
Ambition was burning in Cassiela's eyes.
'I will follow you.'
The Sword of the Imperial Princess.
Yuma.
Her mother's friend.
In order to someday face him and ask about the days when they were friends.
***
Yuma stared at the scenery outside the swaying carriage.
And Cloné stared at Yuma.
Yuma recalled the advice of Ermel, the inspector from the 3rd Knight Order whom he had met the day before.
-Now that the 1st Prince Schubertche's side also knows you are here, Lord Yuma, there is a high possibility they will send someone toward the County of Rubelt to kill you.
It was a perfectly valid hypothesis.
Dageudak dageudak─
The carriage stopped in front of the County of Rubelt. Yuma paid the fee and got out of the carriage with Cloné.
Yuma and Cloné gazed up at the sunset sky.
Since it was the sky of the Empire's south, there was nothing particularly different about it.
"I feel like the real journey is finally starting, Lord Yuma!"
"Yeah, it is."
Even leaving out the events in Akan, the journey so far had been too exhausting.
'It'll get more exhausting.'
Yuma walked with a high and lofty stride. Then he approached a guard of the county.
Cheolkeong!
A guard raised his spear high. It was a motion to block Yuma's approach.
"State your identity."
Because Yuma and Cloné's attire was nearly that of nobility, the guard did not use casual speech.
Yuma took out the round Proof Plaque from inside his coat.
The golden plaque.
"I am Yuma, the representative of the Imperial Princess."
The guards dropped to their left knees with strict formality.
"We, we are in the presence of Lord Yuma!"
There was no suspicion. News that the Imperial Princess's representative had been active in the neighboring transit city of Akan had reached the guards of the County of Rubelt the very next day.
"Please enter."
Yuma nodded his head.
"Thank you."
Jebeok jebeok!
Yuma quietly glanced at the guard who naturally fell into step beside him and Cloné.
"Is something the matter?"
"By order of His Excellency Count Luvelt, I am to escort you to your lodgings personally now that you have arrived, Lord Yuma."
"Is that so."
Yuma did not refuse the guard's guidance. It saved him from dealing with unnecessary trouble.
"Th-this is the place."
The guard guided Yuma to the most lavish inn in the entire county.
The name of the inn was the Hop.
'No separate hotels here.'
The guard hastily added.
"Ah, there is no need for you to pay. His Excellency the Count has already covered all expenses."
"Understood."
The guard, finishing his words, bowed his head deeply and disappeared.
Yuma entered the Hop with Cloné and received the key at the counter. Then, after merely setting down their luggage, they returned to the first floor for dinner.
6 o'clock.
Because it was the peak dinner hour, people were clustered together at each table.
A savory aroma stimulated the olfactory senses. The menu was spaghetti.
Without picking up his fork yet, Yuma looked at Cloné's golden eyes, which were fixed on him intently.
"Eat."
"Ah, yes!"
Cloné smiled brightly and began eating her spaghetti.
'It's a relief she doesn't seem to be the type who tires easily.'
But why did she keep watching his every move like that.
While thinking that, Yuma gripped his fork. Yuma didn't yet know that Cloné was not watching his every move, but simply staring at him fixedly.
Indeed, it must have been an inn pre-paid by the Count.
The taste of the spaghetti was quite impressive.
They both filled their hungry stomachs with satisfaction.
But then, the entrance of the inn suddenly grew noisy.
"I'm telling you, my little brother disappeared! Overnight! I'm just asking to put up one missing person flyer and leave!"
"I suggest you just leave."
The one shouting was a woman who wore her robe pulled down low. Beneath the robe, long scarlet hair was visible.
"No! You, you know me! We did an escort mission together before!"
At the woman's loud voice, the inn's security guard grabbed her shoulder.
"I'm speaking to you without force because we're acquaintances. Hestia."
The guard looked at Hestia and continued speaking.
As if giving advice.
"You know as well, don't you, that the county does not appreciate people making a racket about disappearances."
"Ah, no! Then if someone really goes missing, what do you call it? What do you say?"
Seureung!
In the end, the guard drew his sword.
"Leave. This is my final warning."
Yuma turned toward the entrance and stared at Hestia.
'A first sight.'
[Lv.67] Hestia
Race: Cat Tribe
Class: Swordsman
State: Sword Expert Intermediate
Cat Tribe.
Under that robe were probably the cat ears characteristic of the Cat Tribe.
'As expected, the races that exist in this world seem almost identical to Loof Blood.'
By confirming the existence of the Cat Tribe, Yuma felt certain he could obtain an 'imprint'. Should an opportunity to find out present itself, he had no intention of missing it.
Kwajik!
In the end, unable to fully suppress her anger, Hestia the Cat Tribe swordswoman kicked the inn's wall once with her foot, then huffed and stormed out, moving far from the Hop Inn.
Yuma and Cloné, having finished their meal, went up to their lodgings.
The inn's rooms were arranged as a suite, with two rooms inside.
"If there's anything you want to talk about, call for me anytime."
In case anything happened, Yuma decided Cloné would use the inner room so he could ensure her safety first.
"Yes!"
After giving an energetic reply, Cloné went into her room and closed the door.
Yuma stared at the crimson bird visible outside the window.
A crow that looked unbearably unclean, as if formed from blood.
Deureureuk─
Yuma opened the window. He came face to face with that ominous red crow perched on top of a tree.
A chilling cry reached his ears. Along with a voice.
-I am Kailon of the Empire's 3rd Seat. I have personally come to this County of Rubelt to kill you.
Yuma spoke indifferently.
"Is that so."
There was no way this bird was his main body.
"Where are you?"
Was he surprised by the utter lack of panic? After a brief silence, Kainegal, speaking through the crow's mouth, continued.
-...The Vain Forest next to this place. I'll be waiting there.
"Got it."
Yuma rose to his feet.