Feelings Held in One's Heart
In the southern part of the Nord Empire's new territory of Nordben, a great wall is being built. At this time, as expected, it does not extend over the entire southern border area, but key locations have been seized, and construction is ongoing in other areas as well.
The defense facilities were built with the Izrim Empire in mind. The purpose of this project is to control flooding, but in reality, it is not the only purpose. The water that flows or is stored in the moat of the Great Wall is also used for agricultural purposes. It is an even larger scale version of the flood control projects that were once carried out within the Nord Empire.
"...If you guys don't attack quickly, it will really become the Great Wall of China, you know?"
"Eh?"
At one of these defense facilities, Ren met with Manami, who had visited as an emissary of the Izrim Empire. Ren himself did not feel the need to negotiate with the Izrim Empire.
"This is the story. So what is the negotiation for?"
"We want the war to end."
"Go ahead."
Ren answered immediately with a smile. It's clear that he doesn't take Manami's words seriously.
"...Is it okay to conclude a truce?"
Manami can't afford to be discouraged by such an attitude. Negotiations with Ren. She knows it will be difficult from the beginning.
"A truce, was the Nord Empire at war with the Izrim Empire?"
"That's……"
Manami is troubled by the meaning of Ren's words. The Nord Empire was at war with the Izrim Magic Kingdom. The Izrim Empire, which was created by destroying that Magic Kingdom, is not necessarily in a state of war with the Nord Empire. However, when Ren told her this, she thought that there might be something behind it.
"For the time being, just now is a question, isn’t it?"
"…………"
Manami could not choose the words to reply. She is an official messenger. Her words will determine the relationship between the Nord Empire and the Izrim Empire.
"You didn't know what kind of relationship we had, so you came to negotiate, didn't you?"
"...No matter what kind of relationship we have, what we want is the same."
Manami is reminded of her own inadequacies and her ears turn red with embarrassment. Still, she has no intention of breaking off the negotiations.
"Then, let's hear that request."
"We don't want war anymore. We want the war to end."
"Go ahead."
"Like I sa――!"
Also, he gave her a sloppy answer. Thinking that, she tried to raise her voice out loud.
"Right now, it is the Izrim Empire that is causing the war. If you want it to end, your own country should just stop fighting."
"…………"
With Ren's words that followed, she was at a loss for words to return.
"Right now, the Izrim Empire is at the center of the conflict. It's Hasegawa-san's country. If you want to stop the war, you should stop your own country first, right?"
"……I know."
"But you can't stop. I think Hasegawa-san really wants to end the war. But you just think about it, but you don't take action."
"I……"
As a diplomatic envoy, she is trying to stop the conflict. She couldn't put it into words. Ren doesn't recognize it as an action to stop the war. Manami knows it too.
"Hasegawa-san understands it, too. Even if I agree to a truce here, it will not be honored for your own reasons. The Izrim Empire will attack the Nord Empire sooner or later."
"…………"
As Ren said. Mei, the emperor, wants a temporary truce. It is a truce until the settlement with the Luine Kingdom is reached.
"Hasegawa-san’s words are yours. But they are not the words of the Izrim Empire. Don't you think that negotiating with that is cheating the other party?"
No matter how much Manami says or promises, it's her words and promises. There is no guarantee that the Izrim Empire will honor it. Then she is not qualified to act as a negotiator. If they still consider her as a messenger, then they are just deceiving the other party in order to give their country an advantage.
"...Tell me your request. I'll tell it to the country."
Even if they can't negotiate, she is still the messenger. As long as she can find a way to negotiate with Ren, Manami doesn't care about her own position.
"There will be no request. Even if I make a request, it will not be granted."
"If you don't say it, we won't know"
"I understand"
"...If you want us dead, that's impossible. But we can sincerely reflect on what we did and apologize."
What Ren wants is the death of those who drove Kazuki to death. If so, it certainly can't be done. However, she believes that death is not the only redemption.
"No... my request is to bring Kazuki back to life. I want Kazuki to live with the children and make her feel glad that she is alive."
"…………"
However, Ren's request was different from what Manami expected. She should have known what Ren wanted. Manami had forgotten that before she knew it.
"I think Hasegawa-san is a decent person, but you don't feel the same way, right? If you kill someone and apologize, you will be forgiven? Do you really think so?"
"...You will kill us because we killed her"
Only resentment continues. Revenge that seeks death only creates new revenge.
"Did you hear what I said? What I want is not your death. It's Kazuki's life."
Manami thought that death was not the only redemption. However, Ren says that even death is not an atonement.
"...That's... impossible."
It is impossible to revive Kazuki. Ren's wish will never come true.
"I know"
"...Then, Ren."
Ren's wishes will never come true. Will it shine a light on Ren's life? That's what Manami thinks.
"Hasegawa-san. I am one of the people who killed Kazuki. Even so, I..."
"…………"
"......If I apologize, will she forgive me? It's that Kazuki."
He lives with the guilt of letting Kazuki die. It was supposed to be that way, but unlike what he thought it would be, there is a warmth in his life now. A warmth that he did not feel in his original world.
He feels sorry for Kazuki, but he thinks that if it was her, she would surely laugh and say, [It was good].
"Eh?"
Even in Ren's inner thoughts, Manami doesn't understand.
"For the time being, I have no intention of negotiating with the Izrim Empire. Even so, the reason I let Hasegawa-san into the country is because Kou is being too noisy."
"Eh?"
"If I treat you any colder, Kou will complain again, so I'll let you two talk about the rest as you see fit. With Kou, it's not diplomatic talk, so talk like the old days."
"Eh?"
Ren just says what he wants to say and leaves the room. The only ones left in the room are Manami, and Kou, who have entered the room in place of Ren.
"Long time no see. How have you been?"
"...Yeah. I'm fine."
"Are you mentally exhausted? Negotiating with Ren is reckless."
"That's right, but in order to end the war... I came here thinking it was for the best."
Manami's actions were denied by Ren. She knows it.
"Don't be depressed. That feeling is admirable, but it's also conceited."
"I'm not conceited."
When it comes to Kou, she was a little more self-centered than usual. It's been a long time since they last met, but that hasn't changed.
"Then let me ask, did war disappear in the original world?"
"Eh?"
"It's not."
"...That's right, but even if it's temporary, peace can be achieved."
"That's what Manami is trying to achieve on your own. If you succeed, surely, in our former world, you'll manage to get a peace."
One can't say for certain, but it's possible. In fact, it doesn't matter. Kou just wants to say that what Manami is trying to achieve is that difficult.
"......I still can't afford to do nothing."
"Yeah. You are right in that thought. But I don't know if what you're doing is right."
"...What am I doing wrong?"
Manami puffed out her cheeks dissatisfied. She behaves like a child, but her gaze is sharp. In her own way, Manami is seriously thinking about what she should be.
"I'm not saying you're wrong. But...... this is just my opinion, but I think you are wrong about the Izrim Empire."
"…Because we are spreading the war?"
"That's right, but that's not all. The Izrim Empire, no, I'm sorry. As expected, I'll be clear on this one. In order to save a few companions, Manami and the others are making thousands and tens of thousands of people more unhappy. That cannot be right."
Many people died for the purpose of freeing their fellow heroes, and those who survived, if not all, suffered from oppression.
"......Yes, that's true. I knew that and pretended I didn't."
In the first place, is liberating their comrades the true purpose of the Izrim Empire? Manami knows it's not.
"If you know that, why?"
"...I understand, n-no. I knew it, but only recently did I admit it. Before I came here, I met Hayashi-kun."
"......You were at war with the country where Hayashi is from, right?"
The Nord Empire is the continent's most focused country on information gathering. Even in Kou's position, he naturally knew where the battle was taking place.
"Yes. I wanted to stop the fighting. But it was no use, and that's when Hayashi told me. He told me that his people are not us, but everyone in his country."
"I see... Hayashi said that."
"I don't think I feel that the people of the Izrim Empire are my companions. I'm sure Mei, the Emperor, doesn't feel the same way."
"There's no way the country can be governed by that. No, I don't think it should be governed."
How can the people be happy if the emperor, who is at the top of the country, does not care about the people? Kou thinks so.
"...What about Ren?"
Ren doesn't trust others. Isn't it the same for the Nord Empire, where Ren is the emperor? Manami thinks so. She wants to think so.
"I think the people who live in the country that Ren rules are happy. Of course, there are people who are suffering. But Ren is doing everything he can to reduce those people."
"……Why?"
"Why is Ren doing such good government? He is probably not aware that he is running a good government for the people. He is simply doing what he thinks is necessary."
To gain the strength to fight, Ren chose to enrich the country and the people, not exploit them. To this end, he implemented various measures to prevent people from complaining about the hard work of cultivation and civil engineering, and eliminated corrupt officials and others who stood in the way of this work.
"…Can Kou forgive Ren? Ren, who killed Akira-kun."
"Hey, hey. Do you want to bring that up here?"
"But..."
"......It's not about forgiveness. I don't think Manami understands, but Akira was determined to fight. It means he was prepared to die. Ren only cherished Akira's resolve."
"...Prepared to die."
Hearing Kou's words, Manami remembered Hayashi's words. [Determining to live in this country is the same as deciding to die in this country], Hayashi said. While showing a radiant smile that showed no signs of hesitation.
"For the sake of Akira's honor, please don't tell anyone."
"What?"
"Akira didn’t have the strength to stop Ren. I think it was Ren's mercy that stopped the pursuit."
"……As I thought."
The day Akira died, they all talked about this possibility. No one tried to pursue whether it was true or not. For Akira's honor.
"Huh? Did you know?"
"We were all talking about that possibility."
"And yet, you're blaming Ren?"
"…………"
"Why?"
Manami has complicated feelings for Ren. It used to be a favor, Kou understand, but it had changed.
"...Kou doesn't understand."
"I understand."
"Eh?"
With Manami's words, Kou understood what she was thinking.
"Are you still holding on to the fact that Ren didn’t invite you?"
"…………"
Manami's face turns bright red as he watches her. It was a good sign, and she was embarrassed that he found out that she had thought that way.
"Manami is mistaken."
"……Mistaken?"
"Originally, Ren only invited my master. I just complained to Ren. I want to train under my master more. I want to be a craftsman like him."
"But……"
At the contract ceremony, Kou was formally invited by Ralph. She knows that it was Ren who invited him.
"Ren just gave me a place where I could make my wish come true. I recently found out, surprisingly, I can't refuse him when he asks me to do something for him."
At any rate, there are more and more people around Ren, and in the Nord Empire. It depends on the person, but Kou believes that Ren, while complaining, does not strongly reject those who strongly desire or have no other choice.
"...That person too?"
"You were there, weren’t you? She asked to accompany him. And it was accepted."
"…………"
"It's not about what Ren wants, it's about what you want, isn't it?"
If you want to come under Ren's wing, you have to show that you want to. What does Manami want to do? That is what Kou is asking.
"……I."
"Of course, you will go back to your own country, right?"
"Eh?"
A voice interrupts Manami as she tries to speak her mind. For Manami, [that person] appeared, whom she did not expect.
"It's been a long time. If I remember correctly... Yes, it was Hasegawa-san. There are many Hasegawa-sans, so I lost track of them."
"...I'm the only [Hasegawa] in the class."
"Ara? Then you are the only one in this world? That's amazing."
In that sense, Shizuku's last name, [Tojo], is also the only one in this world. Kou's [Sanda] is the same. In other words, it means nothing, it's just sarcasm.
"...It's not amazing."
Manami tries hard to refute Shizuku's attack, albeit in a low voice.
"Ara, it's gotta be amazing, at least your last name. Do you think an ordinary person can stay by Ren's side?"
"Tojo-san"
Kou interrupted Shizuku and offered a helping hand.
"Kou-kun. Don't get me wrong. My last name is not Tojo."
"Eh? No, Tojo-san is Tojo-san, right?"
"It changed. Now I'm Shizuku Breitkreuz."
"...Ren will get mad at you, you know?"
Kou warns Shizuku, who takes Ren's last name without permission. If Ren finds out about this, he will definitely get angry. If this results in punishment, it may be all that Shizuku could hope for.
"Don't worry. It's just spelled differently."
"…I see. I don't know whether it works for Ren or not."
Shizuku lied and said that the kreutz in Breitkreutz means cross. This time, she is trying to capitalize on that mistake, but that will never convince Ren.
"Anyway, do you understand?"
Shizuku's gaze returns to Manami. A stern gaze different from that directed at Kou.
"What?"
"What is it like to be by Ren's side? Do you know that and are you still prepared to do that?"
"…………"
Manami cannot answer Shizuku's question immediately. She does not want to say to Shizuku that she is not ready. But she can't say that she was either. If she had such confidence, she would not be here now.
"...I, no, we are prepared to give everything and stand by Ren's side. Don't stand side by side with us with half-hearted thoughts that you can't answer immediately when you are asked."
"I-I..."
"Are you satisfied with just watching from afar?"
"…………"
Being read ahead by Shizuku, Manami fell silent.
"Then continue to watch from afar. If that makes you happy."
"…………"
No words come out of her mouth. Then she can't beat Shizuku. Thinking that, Manami leaves the room with her head down.
"...Tojo-san, that's tough."
"It's not Tojo, it's Breit... Well, that's fine. Then, Kou-kun, it's not correct to say that she's suitable for Ren. Do you think she could walk alongside Ren?"
"......Kinda hard to imagine, don't you think?"
The women around Ren are unique, for better or worse. There is a woman who was, and officially still is, a maid, Emily, from Kou's point of view, has also gained the trust of the people of the new territory, Nordben, and radiates a radiance that was unimaginable during her days at the Church Academy.
Imagining Manami standing side by side with these women is not a comfortable feeling for Kou.
"She is just like me in the past. She is a beauty. But hers is not something made up like mine, but something that comes from the heart. A person like that can't be by Ren's side."
For someone with the heart of a good person, Ren's actions are unforgivable. It takes more than one's own conscience to have feelings that place Ren above one's own conscience.
"...Ren will get mad at you."
"Ren doesn't get angry about this. Ren doesn't think of himself as a good person."
"I see... I don't know, is it different with Kazuki too?"
He thinks that Kazuki, who can sacrifice herself for others, is a good person. Kou can't believe that Kazuki, a good person, could not have been by Ren's side even if she had lived.
"...Harumoto-san... I don't have the right to talk about her, but... I'm sure she'll try to save everyone. Even if it means she's going to die. Even so... also without hesitation... I..."
If Kazuki is in Manami's position, even if he refuses to be persuaded, she will not give up because of it. If the other party is not convinced, she will try to persuade Mei. Even if she is estranged from both sides, even if she loses her place. In Shizuku's mind, Kazuki had grown into such an existence.
"If she's here, if Ren is acting for her sake..."
Ren could indeed have been called a savior. Or was that what Kazuki was called? Her title of saint is just a fake. Shizuku has the feeling that she cannot replace Kazuki.
"...Tojo-san. It is only an imagination. Kazuki... Kazuki was just a normal girl who liked Ren. Same as Tojo-san."
"Kou-kun... I'm... not a normal girl. Don't insult me."
"Huh?"
"I'm a lofty flower that Kou-kun can't reach."
"N-no, maybe so, but now..."
He said those words to comfort Shizuku. If they were denied, Kou would not be satisfied.
"Certainly, a normal girl suits Kou-kun. Like the girl who just left the room."
"Eh……?"
But the conversation goes in a direction Kou never expected. It's a development that makes him wonder what the conversation was just before.
"I'm sure she's very depressed, so why don't you try comforting her? Girls are vulnerable when they're treated kindly at times like this."
"...Taking advantage of such a weakness?"
"If you don't take advantage of their weakness, where are you going to take advantage of them?"
"No, that's."
"Or is it okay for you to let her die, Kou-kun? If she stays in the Izrim Empire, she will die."
"…………"
The Izrim Empire is Ren's enemy. Even if Ren doesn't see them as enemies, which it isn't, but the Izrim Empire will start a fight. Even Kou knows that much.
How dangerous it is to be Ren's enemy. Kou knows this very well.
"I don't care what happens to her with a man other than Ren. I'll leave the rest to you."
As long as she does not do anything to attract Ren's attention, Shizuku does not care whether Manami is in the Nord Empire or not. Shizuku said.
"...It's a tough negotiation."
"If you don't give up, somehow... I don't think it's a comforting word. No matter what the outcome, just don't regret it."
"……Yeah."
Kou makes up his mind and leaves the room. Persuading Manami is difficult. To remain in the Nord Empire as it is is to betray Mei and the others. He doesn't think Manami will accept that.
Still, as Shizuki said, he thought he'd just do what he won't regret. For himself and for Akira who had passed away.
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