Manner of Death
The battle between the Izrim Empire and the Eastern Nations Alliance, which had been in a stalemate, is now moving forward at once. At the beginning of the war, the Eastern Nations Alliance had been gaining the upper hand in the battle against the strong armies of the Lemberg Kingdom through surprise attacks and superior numbers, but now they were being completely pushed back by the Izrim Empire. There is one reason for this. It is because reinforcements from the Izrim Empire have arrived.
Although the Eastern Nations Alliance still outnumbered them, the quality of their forces was different. The reinforcements of the Izrim Empire are a group of knights led by Ogawa, a hero. In addition, Minami is also joining them. Hayashi was fighting a good fight against Jin, but with the addition of two hero armies, it would be tough to counter. All he could do was to slowly retreat the front line while avoiding taking decisive damage.
Still, it was a great feat. The Eastern Nations Alliance is, of course, an aggregation of a number of countries. Naturally, their armies are also a mixed force. They were able to pull it all together, lead it so that the front line did not collapse, and conduct a withdrawal battle. Even though his individual military prowess was inferior to Jin's, Hayashi may have possessed superior talent in terms of commanding an army.
However, even with his abilities, he could not restore the inferiority of the Eastern Nations Alliance. It was only a matter of time before the retreat turned into a complete rout.
――The territory of the Kingdom of Melka, one of the member countries of the Eastern Nations Alliance. A fortress located about two days from the border of the Lemberg Kingdom.
"Stop wasting time and surrender."
In front of the fortress, Jin is urging Hayashi standing about 10 meters away to surrender.
"......If I surrender, what will be the conditions?"
Hayashi asked Jin about the terms of surrender.
"I will spare your life."
"Whose lives are you talking about? All the people of the countries belonging to the Eastern Nations Alliance?"
"That's... at this point, I can't make a clear promise. But as long as I can, I will do what I want."
Jin has no authority to decide that. The only thing he can do is to encourage Mei to make sure that the conditions are what Hayashi wants.
This shows Jin's seriousness in a bad direction. If he wants to help Hayashi and the Eastern Nations Alliance, he should just make it a done deal.
"Surrender is unacceptable unless the terms are clear. Isn't that right?"
"As I say I'll do what I can."
"......But you can't promise that it will always be what you want?"
A question he knows the answer to. There is no way the Izrim Empire would accept Hayashi's request.
"I will definitely save your life! I promise!"
"... I want to save the lives of my comrades. Not my own."
Hayashi doesn't think about self-protection. If he was looking for that, he would not be here talking to Jin like this.
"So who do you want me to save? Be specific."
"Everyone"
"……What did you say?"
"To save the lives of all the people of all the countries that have joined the Eastern Nations Alliance."
"…So, can all of those countries promise to obey the Izrim Empire?"
Jin doesn't say [I can't do it]. Jin also hopes for a peaceful end to the war as much as possible. Whether or not that can actually happen is another matter.
"...No, there's another one."
"Another one? What is it?"
"As before, the current royal family of each country should rule over their own country."
"That's……"
He wouldn't say [It can't be done] either. But in his head, he doesn't think it's possible.
The Izrim Empire expanded by exploiting the ambitions of its subjects. Even in this battle, there must be many of its subjects who want to make the territory of the Eastern Nations Alliance their own. They will not keep quiet about it.
"What are you talking about! We can't accept that!"
It was Ogawa who raised his voice here. He also has those ambitions.
"So how far would you go to be acceptable?"
"How far?"
"I'm trying to negotiate now. I've told you what I want. So what? What are your terms?"
"…………"
Even if asked about the conditions, there is no way Ogawa can answer. Even if he answered, it would not be the demands of the Izrim Empire.
"...Then let's ask Jin. What are your conditions?"
"......I can't say, from my standpoint, that the conditions of the Izrim Empire are like this."
"I see. Then――"
"Negotiations are broken!"
Ogawa interrupts Hayashi's words and declares that the negotiations are broken.
"……Are you serious?"
"Yeah, I'm serious. I can see your schemes. Are you trying to buy time by pretending to negotiate?"
"Buying time? What for?"
Hayashi returns the question with a smile on Ogawa's pursuit.
"That's... buying time to escape!"
"Correct answer"
"Huh?"
Hayashi plainly confessed that the negotiation was a lie. It's too easy, and Ogawa, who pursued it, is confused.
"I told you it was the right answer. Negotiation is a lie to stop you guys."
"……You've got to be kidding me."
"I'm not kidding. I can't afford to joke around. Now that we've been exposed, we have no choice but to continue the fight. Let's continue the fight."
Hayashi pulls out the sword from his waist. Seeing that, both Ogawa and Jin are puzzled.
"Fight? You're all alone."
Hayashi came to the place alone. He left his forces in the fortress behind him.
"There are two of you."
Jin and Ogawa also accepted Hayashi's request to talk without the others, and brought no one else with them. Of course, there is an army in a slightly distant position.
"There's no way you can win two-on-one."
"I didn't say I would win. I just said we would keep fighting."
Hayashi should be in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous situation. However, from the expression on his face, they can feel a sense of leeway. That was eerie for Jin and Ogawa.
"Surrender. Surrender and fight with us."
Once again, Jin urged him to surrender.
"Even if I accept that, who will I fight?"
"You don't have to fight the Orthea Kingdom. There are others to fight, whether in the Luine Kingdom or the Nord Empire."
"…I can’t do that."
"Why is it so!?"
"Are you telling me... to turn a blind eye to my comrades' misfortunes!? Jin! Is that your true nature!?"
Hayashi's relaxed face changed completely. With an angry expression, he swung his sword at Jin. Jin received it with his own sword.
"I don't want to kill my comrade!"
"Don't joke around! You're not my comrade! You're my enemy!"
Hayashi pushes his sword into Jin with all his might. Jin, however, is not defeated at all. He pushed Hayashi in the opposite direction. Hayashi dodged by leaning back lightly and leaping backward to make space for him.
The sword flashes from there. A flaming blade extends from the tip of the sword and attacks Jin from a distance.
"Uoooohhh!!"
Jin let out a roar. At the same time, Jin's sword is tinged with dazzling light. Hayashi's flames were hit by Jin's sword and dispersed.
But Hayashi's attacks don't end there. Closing the gap, he thrusts the flame-clad blade toward Jin.
Jin dodges and avoids. The flames burn his hair, but he doesn't care. He kicked Hayashi's abdomen who was leaning forward.
"Guh."
Hayashi was blown away with a groan. Half on purpose. By jumping a great distance, he avoided Jin's next attack. Jin jumped forward as well, trying not to let that happen.
Hayashi rolls on the ground. However, he was unable to escape and was kicked by Jin again.
"You have no chance of winning! Surrender!"
Of course, in one-on-one combat, Jin is one or two times better. Hayashi endures it because Jin is thinking of capturing him alive.
"...Y-you're noisy. I'll surrender to you guys if I die!"
"Then I'll use force...!"
Jin was about to throw another kick at Hayashi, but it was interrupted by a flash of light that blocked his vision. Jin had not expected that he would use a magic tool at this point.
This carelessness creates an opening, and he loses track of Hayashi. From Jin's back.
"Guha...!"
He heard Hayashi's groans.
"Blinding an opponent, how cowardly."
Ogawa, standing behind him, with his sword propped up against Hayashi's back, spit out those words.
"...C-calling me, that, a-aren't you the cowardly one?"
Ogawa interrupted him in the middle of his fight with Jin. It is not fair to say that. According to the rules of the knights in this world.
"Shut up! Die quickly!"
He thrust it out again towards Hayashi's chest, who turned around. It pierces deeply and sticks out on Hayashi's.
"Ah... Guh..."
Bright red blood erupts from Hayashi's mouth and falls on Ogawa's face.
"...Ogawa. That's enough. Now pull out your sword."
Jin couldn't stand the gruesome appearance of the two. He told him to pull out his sword, but Ogawa didn't listen.
"Ogawa! Enough! Get away!"
"W-wrong! It's Hayashi!"
Ogawa screams with his face dyed red. It's not that he doesn't want to get away. He can't get away.
"...Tch... d-didn't catch a big one... i-it can't be helped... e-even a small fish... too."
"Hey!? Let go! Let go!"
"...Y-yeah, n-now, I'll let go!"
Letting go of the hand that had been holding Ogawa, Hayashi thrust the sword he was holding with all his might toward his mouth as he screamed loudly.
"Gah... n-nga..."
"...D-die."
Hayashi muttered to Ogawa, who was moaning in pain. At that moment, the sword that was deeply pierced into Ogawa's mouth burst into flames.
"Guh, guaaahh... ah..."
With the sword in his mouth, Ogawa slowly collapses. Hayashi also pulled out the sword that had been piercing him and thrust it into Ogawa's chest.
Ogawa stopped moving even a twitch. Hayashi, who was watching, also collapsed on his back.
"...N-no way."
Jin stares at it in amazement. The battle ended in a draw. That's how he saw the end of the battle.
"Eh……?"
The light that enveloped Hayashi's body was reflected in Jin's eyes. Jin knows what it is. It's a light attribute magic that Jin can use. Someone cast a spell on Hayashi.
That someone was immediately seen. A man in a white robe approached. He can't think of anything other than that man.
"……Who are you?"
"Before asking that, don't you think to ask about his condition?"
"...Can he be saved?
"No. It just prolongs his life a little."
"Can't be saved?"
Jin knew, of course, that recovery magic was not omnipotent. The wounds suffered by Hayashi were fatal. However, knowing this, the question remains as to why he used recovery magic.
"Out of respect for his resolve, why not at least let him die at the side of his comrades?"
"So that's how it is..."
"It's a mistake to think of heroes as a whole. Not only are there those who are heroes in name only, but there are also true heroes like him who would give their lives for the sake of their comrades."
"...You. Who are you?"
The man who called them garbage made Jin more wary than angry.
"Don't you understand?"
"...Are you from the church, no, from the Anti-Hero Alliance?"
Thinking that he is a member of the Anti-Hero Alliance, which is their enemy, Jin's hand reaches out to the hilt of his sword.
"Half-correct? Or, to be more precise, former. I'm working under that banner now."
"That banner?"
"That's right."
There is certainly a flag at the point where the man is pointing. A black cross on a white background. The flag was approaching.
"......Where is that flag from?"
Jin didn't know which flag had the black cross on the white background. It was the first time he had seen that flag.
"...You'll find out soon enough. For now, don't worry. I can't carry him by myself, so I'm just asking for backup."
"Back up……"
A large number of people just for carrying Hayashi. Jin was not inclined to believe the man's words.
"The fact that there are so many of us is out of respect for him, but if you are concerned, let's wait until your allies arrive."
Jin also has allies. They are the escort knights who have been hiding in a place where they can see them, so that they can rush to the scene immediately in the event of an unforeseen situation. The escort knights are already moving.
"Jin!"
Minami, who was leading the escort knights, called out to Jin.
"I'm fine!"
"But……"
"It's all right. They don't want to fight."
"……I understand."
Minami reluctantly accepts Jin's words. Minami looks dissatisfied, but the escort knights are right behind Jin. If something happens, they are in a position where they can deal with it immediately.
Seeing the arrival of the escort knights, the other party also began to move. A group of about 10 people marched without disturbing the formation, led by a man holding a battle flag upright. More than half are dressed as knights.
Their orderly appearance has not changed since their arrival.
They line up in front of Hayashi lying on the ground, showing no sign of concern for the knights on the Izrim Empire side. The knights offer their swords and salute. Those in robes show a posture as if they are praying. When they are done, they place Hayashi on the board they have carried and slowly lift the four corners. The knights lined up in front of and behind them.
"Let's go"
When they are ready, the first man to arrive urges them to depart.
"...I-I."
Hayashi talks to the man. His tone is firm, as if the recovery magic is working, albeit temporarily.
"You are not going to be saved. In other words, you have fulfilled your promise. I must say, it was brilliant."
"Then...?"
"I'm sorry that I can't make any promises, but I promise I'll do my best to persuade him. I will risk my life, just as you did. Please forgive me."
"...Thank you. That's enough. I have no regrets."
The man's words made Hayashi look relieved. He doesn't seem to be afraid of the impending death. Jin doesn't understand the meaning of their conversation, or Hayashi's feelings.
"Hurry up and bring this person to his comrades. So that he can spend as much time together as possible."
"Yes"
The group started to move. It exuded an even more solemn atmosphere than when they arrived. The death of Hayashi, which will soon come, may be making him think so.
Jin couldn't stop the procession. He can't get in the way of Hayashi's last moments.
"...Well, excuse me too, but just one piece of advice."
"Advice? What is it?"
"If you still intend to go deep into the territory of the Eastern Nations Alliance, be prepared to do so."
"So we're enemies after all."
The man's organization is trying to side with the Eastern Alliance. He knew it from the man's words. Jin is not surprised. He expected that possibility.
"We have been enemies from the beginning. Even if the banner we serve changes, the One we serve remains the same."
"Who do you serve...?"
"You are surprisingly slow-witted. You have many enemies now, but I don't think there are that many people who have been your enemies since before the usurpation."
The man shakes his head deliberately from side to side, trying to show that he is truly dismayed. Jin forgets to hold back and thinks about the meaning of the man's words. It is already in his mind. He is upset because of it.
"No way... that's...?"
The meaning of [prepared] that the man said. He knew it when the person said it. If they go ahead, they will fight against the Nord Empire and Ren.
◇◇◇
Ren has been busy working in the Nordben territory. Even though the number of personnel has increased and Ren's workload has lightened a little, it doesn't make it any easier. Nor does Ren want to take it easy. In the Nord Empire, Ren is still the best in both military and strategic matters.
The scope of its military and strategic activities is about to spread across the continent. In this case, it is convenient to be in Nordben, the midpoint between the east, west, and south, within the territory of the Nord Empire. But that's just for now.
"...I see. Hayashi-kun."
Hearing Prime Minister Lang's report, Ren shows a slightly sorrowful expression. He shouldn't have mourned Hayashi's death, but when he received the report, he felt something.
"I heard that he died splendidly. Norris, who has a strong antipathy to the hero, told me so, so it must have been so."
Norris was a former church priest who had gone to the Eastern Alliance, or rather to negotiate with Hayashi and is a member of the Anti-Hero Alliance. He was the man who appeared before Jin.
"It's a priest's habit to honor self-sacrifice. But well, I don't hate it either."
He feels a little resistance to praising Hayashi, but denying self-sacrifice also means denying Kazuki. Ren's thoughts are complicated.
"So what are you going to do?"
"What are you asking? If Hayashi-kun has kept his promise, we must also keep it. We will support the Eastern Alliance."
Support sought by the Eastern Alliance. Ren rejected it. Because he has no intention of getting involved in a battle between heroes. So what if it is not a battle between heroes? This was the condition that Hayashi proposed. In exchange for his own death, he asked the Nord Empire for support.
Ren doesn't really accept it. Hayashi died before hearing about the conditions. Still, Ren decided to accept Hayashi's wishes.
"Even if it becomes an all-out war with the Izrim Empire?"
"I was prepared for that from the beginning. But that's not what I meant. Like I said earlier, he kept his promise. I can't betray a man who has kept his word. That is the last remaining trust in the Nord Empire."
The Nord Empire keeps its promises. They cannot afford to lose this trust. It is also necessary for the success of a vicious scheme.
Even if Ren doesn't accept it, there are people in the Eastern Alliance who know the negotiation. If so, they must show the good faith of the Nord Empire.
"Okay. So where do we start?"
"It depends on how the Izrim Empire moves. Do you think they will move soon?"
There is a possibility that they will not move. Ren thinks so.
"They haven't come to a conclusion about that yet. Jin Takamiya is taking a cautious stance, but the Izrim Emperor will be the one who will come to a conclusion."
Jin is perfectly set up by Norris. By daring to question their preparedness, he made him think that the Nord Empire was ready.
"At least they were able to buy some time for the decision to be made in their home country. But as for Katsuragi-san or...... that guy, I've misread them a few times. If that's the case......"
"Do you want to wait for more information?"
"No way. The time they've made is not worth wasting. Regarding support for the construction of defensive positions, we'll move quickly. I would like them to be prepared to be invaded to some extent...... The bordering country is the Melka Kingdom. Would you agree?"
If the Izrim Empire moves early, it will not be able to maintain its current front line. Even if they don't, it is Ren's basic tactic to intercept the enemy with a strong defense. The invasion of the Melka Kingdom, which borders the Lemberg Kingdom, cannot be stopped.
"I will have to convince them. They will also need financial support, don't you think?"
"It can't be helped. Is it necessary to rotate our forces to some extent? We need to give them a sense of security."
"Which troops will you be sending?"
"Of course, Kai and Mai. We're dealing with Takamiya-san. Plus, put on a few former church knights. I don't want them to be underestimated as a young commander."
He doesn't feel the weight of revenge with Jin, but Kai and Mai would want to fight him. Ren thought.
"Understood. What else?"
"…Give Katsuragi-san the material to make a decision. No, will it take time to make her reconsider a decision?"
If one can't predict how a decision will be made, just create a predictable situation.
"...No way? Are you going to accept a meeting with the Luine Kingdom?"
A meeting has been proposed by the Luine Kingdom. Of course, it has been ignored. The reason is that there was absolutely no need for Ren's side to reveal the direction of the battle.
"No way."
"An alliance?"
"No way. We'll have to fight them someday. We just have to decide the order in which we will fight them."
If they form an alliance, their actions will be restricted. The battle between the Luine Kingdom and the Nord Empire will be after the settlement with the Izrim Empire. He's just going to promise that.
"...Is that the end result of supporting the Eastern Alliance?"
"That's what I mean."
To ally with the Eastern Alliance means, of course, to fight against the Izrim Empire. The Nord Empire decided to fight the Izrim Empire first. Negotiations with the Luine Kingdom became necessary for the Nord Empire as well.
"…What about the reported presence of demons?"
"Ignore. In other words, it doesn't matter if they are present or not."
"Is that okay?"
Baat and the others are clearly enemies of Ren. Because of them, many allies, including King Drakul, died. Lang had always wondered why Ren would leave such an opponent alone.
"I'll leave the demons outside Nord to Rin. That's what I've decided."
"Is that so? Understood."
If that's the reason, it makes sense. He doesn't intend to cut its head at all, but he recognizes that he doesn't need to think of a plan.
"Don't let your guard down just because of that."
"Of course. Where would you like to designate the location of the meeting?"
"It's better to be close to the Luine Kingdom because it's a waste of time to travel."
Even if they start moving at the same time, the Nord Empire should be much faster. Prior to that, when the time comes to inform them of the location of the meeting, they will already have sent a security force to the location to begin preparations. No matter what Baat and his men plan to do, they will not allow it. On the contrary, they will counterattack and take all possible measures to destroy the other party.
"Understood. I will choose a suitable place."
King Albert of the Luine Kingdom and Emperor Ren of the Nord Empire. The meeting was to take place as never expected. The chaos on the continent began to show a direction. Whether this was a natural course of events, or whether it was the result of someone's intention, no one could tell, except for a few special individuals.
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