The First Yora (2)
At Delta headquarters, Code One and the high-level summit of the nations were proceeding quickly.
Shirone headed for the Jincheon sector.
"This evens things out."
He had already secured confirmations from the Southern Tribal Union, Corona of the Ivory Tower, and the King of Arakne.
"Kessia and Paras will be impossible to persuade, but if we can bring Jincheon and the Moon Kingdom into the fold, the advantage will shift."
All twelve nations already knew Yahweh was acting on behalf of Tormia.
Whatever their private feelings, it wouldn't hurt them to at least hear him out.
Only one nation had shut the door in their faces: Zaive.
"Gis."
Of course. With the world-leading nation effectively decided, no one wanted to introduce a needless variable.
When Shirone's thought finished, he arrived in the Jincheon sector and, guided by Oryongjang, was led into Jin-gang's chamber.
"You've come?"
Pale as a corpse from his wounds, Jin-gang nevertheless forced himself to greet him from his chair.
"He truly is resolute," Shirone thought.
If a human's life force could be measured in numbers, Jin-gang would have less than one percent left.
"How are you holding up?"
"I can endure. Yes, Code One has been activated. You've come to see the kings to talk about the vote, I suppose?"
"Yes. This is the only way to stop Zaive's unilateral run. Gather power for Tormia."
Jin-gang snorted.
"You take me too lightly." "I don't know about the other nations, but the Empire is no mere kingdom. It's another world. We cannot kneel easily to a kingdom called Tormia."
"Zaive will become the world-leading nation."
"What difference would that make? Zaive or Tormia, Jincheon can stand against either."
It was imperial pride.
"Shirone, you've done your best. Jincheon is grateful to Yahweh. But this isn't only a matter between states. Even if I die, Jincheon must endure." The Empire was made of many kingdoms—he expected it wouldn't be easy.
"I fully understand, Your Majesty. But now is the time to unite our strength. Humanity stands on the brink of extinction. Gis cannot gather everyone. Above all, places that won't support him—places like Your Majesty—will rebel. Leave it to me. Seongeum would want that too."
At Shirone's calm words, Jin-gang's eyes hardened.
"Are you selling my daughter?"
"In truth, that is the case. Seongeum and I—" Shirone faltered, coughing.
He slammed his leg down on the floor.
The room trembled. Shirone briefly feared a bone had broken, but more than anything he was struck by the raw force still in the man.
"My daughter is in hell."
An almost demonic look filled Jin-gang's eyes.
It was a father's despair that had buried his child in eternal torment—a despair that had even turned his once-mighty arm into an instrument of vengeance.
"Yahweh, do you know why I still live? To save my daughter and sweep away the demons that cast her into hell. All preparations are complete. They may fire the Parma Radiant Star at my daughter, but the demons will finally learn what true hell is. I will never forgive them."
He was already a ghost inside.
On the surface he looked human, but his mind had long since been soaked in madness.
Jin-gang waved his hand coldly.
"Leave. Abandoning the greater good is a disgrace to my house, but I will no longer compromise with anyone. I reject your offer."
If Shirone had not been Yahweh's envoy, he would have drawn his blade the moment Jin-gang's daughter's name left his mouth.
"We cannot go back like this. I came to win Your Majesty's vote."
"I won't say it twice."
Jin-gang touched the hilt beside him and, as if his chair were a sword, rose.
"There is a way to save Seongeum."
Jin-gang, who had been clenching his teeth and poised to strike, lifted his head.
"W-what?"
"You will not die. I mean there may be a way to bring Your Majesty's daughter back to reality."
Jin-gang's whiskers trembled.
"Didn't you say there was no way? If this is a lie to win a single vote—"
"Etella is a bishop of the Karsis Order and the teacher I respect most."
Jin-gang fell silent.
"If Seongeum chose eternal suffering for humanity, then she has embraced that pain fully and is moving toward oblivion. It would be infinite agony."
The candles around them flickered wildly.
"If the teacher can do it, I have a plan. Perhaps Your Majesty's daughter could return."
"Ugh!"
Jin-gang staggered.
"Your Majesty!"
Oryongjang stepped forward, but Jin-gang waved him back.
"What did you say her name was…?"
"Romi Etella."
Repeating the name over and over, Jin-gang wiped tears from his shaking hands.
"Forgive me. For a moment I was weak enough to feel relief. I, Jin-gang, raise my fists to the heavens."
"Even in death I will never forget that name."
"You should not," Shirone said coldly.
Not because Seongeum living would mean Etella's death.
He was angry that the reality demanded one human shoulder everything and sacrifice themselves.
"Why must someone always think they alone can bear it? If everyone gave a little, this world could experience a great upheaval right now, like an earthquake."
"Tell me the method."
"You will hand Tormia's vote over to Jincheon?" An immediate exchange.
It was a decision to be weighed, but the outcome already seemed determined.
"You needn't walk away. Tell me. How do you intend to bring my daughter back?"
Shirone held up a finger.
"Parma Radiant Star."
Tormia sector.
In a dim room lit by a single small lamp, Albino and Lupist drank tea.
"In an hour the finale will begin. That will mark the end of the official holy ceremony."
They said the world's performers would close the last act.
"It feels both long and short. I think we've done everything we could."
"Aye. I don't even know what variables might pop up. People like to think they see far ahead, but trying to look even one second forward often leaves them blind. We're all blind. We grope forward, second by second."
"Zaive refused Code One."
Albino chuckled at Lupist's abrupt remark.
"You're throwing a tantrum now? Hurry up. You're too big and I'm too old."
Lupist sipped his tea.
"It's the first time I've seen the head of the Magic Association act so sentimental. Feeling guilty, are you?"
"I feel. I just don't let emotions rule me. Plu is talented—too valuable to waste."
"You're killing someone who could rule the world. Isn't that sacrifice enough for the nation?"
"…Perhaps. Shirone is gathering votes from the nations, but we can't just sit back and accept things."
They needed a pretext as well.
"Don't worry. Plu will do well. She'll solve the problems left to us." Albino asked as he drank.
"You seem quite fond of that girl. Other feelings involved?"
"No."
Lupist adjusted his posture.
"I don't regard a subordinate in any special way. I see her as a core component of the kingdom."
"Like Jane?"
At the mention of the former secretary-general of the Magic Association, Lupist fell silent.
Meanwhile, having finished his business, Gis whistled as he made his way toward the Zaive sector.
"It's over. I've won."
Tomorrow he would rule the world.
Of course, once the documents Fermi had sent reached the nations, the situation might change.
Most of the gossip spread through the windows only reached the holy ceremony's maids and cleaners; it hadn't yet made its way to national officials, especially kings.
Perhaps that was the gulf between king and citizen.
"Hey, Pedra."
Seeing the Prime Minister of Arakne at the end of the corridor, Gis spread his arms and walked over.
"You've done well. I don't regret the money I spent on you. How does it feel to be the world's prime minister?"
"Well, that…"
Pedra, who had already made a deal with Albino, couldn't enjoy the moment the way Gis did.
"What's that face? Have confidence. It's over. Even Zaive's intelligence predicts a landslide."
"Haha, yes. But… where are you going?"
"A date."
Gis straightened his collar and winked.
Despite lazing away the afternoon, his energy made Pedra stick out his tongue.
"Impressive. I might not even be able to pee today. Who is that blessed woman?"
"You know—the secretary of the Tormia Magic Association."
"Ravid… Plu?"
"Why make it complicated? Tomorrow not only a woman but all of humanity will be beneath my feet. We need to finish it quickly."
Tormia, Pedra thought.
Pedra, whose usual tactic was the beauty trap, began to be suspicious of the situation.
"Hey, look at these guys." Gis asked, "What? Is something wrong?"
After a moment's thought, Pedra shook his head with a coquettish smile.
"No, I was curious how you handled someone who seemed so strict."
"Haha! That's all my beastly charm. Women need to be handled roughly."
"Enviable confidence."
"Heh, I'll introduce you later. Anyway, I'm off. See you at the finale."
"All right, take care."
Bowing and accompanying Gis, Pedra looked up as Gis's face went expressionless.
"Go on, examine her," Gis seemed to think. He won't get far.
Plu, leaning against the entrance wall of the Zaive sector, sensed someone and turned her head.
Gis called out.
"What, you were already here? You're surprisingly impatient. Or you just couldn't wait?"
"Impatience is Your Highness' trait. There are still people wandering about; isn't this too early?"
"My fault? The schedule moved up. That Habitz fellow… anyway, that's done. You need to attend the finale in an hour. There's no time."
Plu sensed it.
"He intends to discard me. Typical." It didn't matter—this was the one chance she wanted.
"All right. I also need to attend the official ceremony."
Gis boldly slung an arm around Plu's shoulder and led her to the suite he had prepared.
When they opened the door, the Zaive royal guards stood fully armed and ready.
"As rumored."
Gis, always suspicious, kept a guard near him even when bedding a woman.
As he removed his coat he asked, "Will it be all right? It'll feel strange at first, but you'll adjust. Think of it as decoration."
"Yes."
Plu did not hesitate.
"Haha! I like that. A woman who plans ahead is my ideal. Shall we?"
"I'll wash first."
Without asking permission, Plu went straight into the bathroom.
"Heh, prickly."
Knowing there would be no man left here in the end, she washed slowly.
"The guard captains."
Against an enemy like the First Corps—masters of the rapid draw—there would be no escaping.
"I'm going to die, huh."
Warm water slid from her hair tips as she smiled like a girl.
"It's all right."
Wiping the mirror fog away, she steadied herself while looking at her last reflection.
"I am Ravid Plu."
Secretary of the Tormia Magic Association's secretariat, loyal to her country and its people.