kscans

Chapter 3 - v1c1 - Succession of the Holy Orb

"Alright, let’s practice our smiles, the three of us. First impressions are everything, you know. Ready? Aaaand… smile!"

At the command of Lulu Gattoland, Second Princess of the Gato Kingdom, her younger brother, Toto Gattoland, the second prince, broke into a wide smile.

"Perfect! Toto, you’re so cute! One hundred and twenty points!"

Beaming, Lulu’s cat ears twitched as she hugged her adorable younger brother, rubbing her cheek against his. Dressed in a silk petticoat with a lace-trimmed train, a bodice that accentuated her ample bosom, flower ornaments, and even goldwork on her hairpins, shoes, and gloves, Lulu looked more mature than her eighteen years.

"Stop it, I’m not a child anymore," Toto protested with a smile as his cheek was being rubbed.

He wore a red surcoat with a white cat crest embroidered on the back, a white silk tunic, velvet trousers, and a rapier at his leather sword belt. At sixteen, his smile still held a trace of boyishness.




"And Gaga… zero points."

Her expression suddenly sobered, and Lulu pointed a cold finger at the first prince, Gaga Gattoland.

Dressed in the same ceremonial attire as Toto, with a massive double-edged knight sword that nearly dragged on the ground at his belt, Gaga stood with his arms crossed, staring straight ahead at the sky. He didn’t even glance at his siblings, his cat ears pricked straight up.

"This is absurd. Why must we grovel before the daughter of the Black Rose?"

"No one said anything about groveling. I’m saying we should welcome her as a new member of our family."

"Artemisia is His Majesty’s ward—in other words, a hostage. There is no reason for royalty to kowtow to a hostage."

Lulu let out a deep sigh at Gaga’s resolute declaration. Her brother, who was turning twenty this year, was so preoccupied with his own ideas that he refused to listen to anyone else.

The three royals—Gaga, Lulu, and Toto—stood in a line on the pier of the Gattoland Airport, which was built into the mountainside at an altitude of five hundred meters, gazing at the distant blue sky as the wind blew around them.

The approaching air sailboat with its black sails had been visible for quite some time. With a surface vessel, the mast would first appear over the horizon, followed gradually by the hull. But an air sailboat first materialized as a dot in the blue haze, its silhouette slowly swelling over a long period until its outline became clear.

Lulu’s face contorted in disgust.

"Why do you always have to say such mean things…? Ugh. At least you, Toto, be nice to Artemisia, okay? It would be a disgrace to our entire race if people thought all Minya were as cantankerous as Gaga. Minya are supposed to be cheerful and friendly, always playing together in the sun! Right, Toto?"

Lulu asked pointedly, making sure the first prince, Gaga, could hear. Toto, whose cat ears perked up from his golden curls, answered with a sincere smile, his crimson eyes sparkling.

"I’m happy to have a new sister. Our parents may be enemies, but I believe we can be friends. If humans and Minya are to live in harmony, we must first become friends with Artemisia."

A pang of affection shot through Lulu’s chest. She grabbed Toto’s head with both hands and pulled it into a tight embrace against her bosom.

"...Such a good boy! You’re so cute!!"

"...Mmph! Mmphhh!"

"Gaga, negative thirty points! Toto, one hundred and eighty!! Ugh, how can two brothers be so different in cuteness!?"

Toto managed to pry his sister’s arms away and catch his breath. Lulu’s affection was sometimes a bit much.

Gaga glared at Lulu out of the corner of his eye.

"You’ve read too many fairy tales. There’s no way humans and Minya can live together in harmony. It’s highly likely Artemisia’s presence here is a trap set by Ilias. Be on your guard."

Lulu’s face twisted in even greater annoyance. She turned to Toto and cooed, "Honestly. What era is he living in? It’s because of old-fashioned thinking like that that these pointless conflicts never end. We’ll be friends with Artemisia, won’t we, Toto? If we royals don’t set an example by getting along with humans, the citizens will never be able to either."

At her words, Toto returned a faint smile.

"I agree. Let’s prove from now on that humans and Minya can be friends."

Gaga watched their exchange coldly, then snorted.

"They’re close enough to see us now. Stop fooling around. We’ll look weak."

The wind, rushing up the mountainside, passed between the fifteen squires lined up behind them. The crests on their spear pennants fluttered, and the white cats depicted on them seemed to leap in unison. Gaga, Lulu, and Toto stopped their antics and straightened their backs, their gazes fixed on the medium-sized flying galley-sail of the Black Rose Knights, now so close that the figurehead of Saint Juno was visible.

The crest on the foremast flag was a black rose and a sword on a black field, bordered with gold thread.

By his estimation, it was thirty meters long and seven meters wide. From the shape of the main mast on its buoyancy body, he knew it to be the Black Rose Air Fleet’s flagship, the Demistri.

"It’s a magnificent ship. The buoyancy body is large, too," Toto remarked.

Gaga snorted.

"It’s nothing compared to our air battleship, the Vera Clara. We surpass it in the number of cannons, the size and sturdiness of the hull, and the ornamentation of the castles—everything."

It seemed Gaga was desperate to compete with the Black Rose Knights. The two powers, who had fought for so long, were supposed to build a friendly relationship with Artemisia as the bond between them, so there was no need to be so defensive, Toto thought. He simply nodded in agreement and looked at the intricate carvings on the fore, aft, and mid castles of the approaching air sailboat. It was a splendid ship, decorated with motifs of roses, vines, and ancient gods, but he could count twenty closed gunports on the port side alone of its three-tiered, spindle-shaped hull. In battle, those ports would open, and the gleaming black barrels of 15cm cannons would protrude.

The airport sailors had already begun preparations for docking.

The ship slowed, and the pier workers hooked several grappling poles onto its side. While a surface vessel would drop anchor to moor, with an air sailboat, they first had to line the gap between the pier and the hull with wool-stuffed fenders to prevent damage upon contact, and then secure it with ropes.

Both the ship’s crew and the airport staff, all skilled sailors, worked with practiced efficiency. Soon, a wooden gangplank was laid between the pier and the ship, and the orchestra assembled on the pier began to play. To the elegant melody, a knight of unprecedented size slowly emerged from the air sailboat’s upper deck and descended the gangplank.

For a moment, Toto worried the gangplank might not hold and would collapse under his weight.

He had to be over two meters and thirty centimeters tall. And his features were not human.

"...!?"

A stir went through the squires. Gaga, Lulu, and Toto also showed a flicker of surprise as they watched the misshapen knight step onto the pier.

He was covered in a jet-black mantle bordered with gold thread. On his back was the crest of a black rose and a sword. The halberd he held in one hand had a spearhead as long as a child and an axe head as large as a man’s head, both sheathed in leather. A single swing in a melee would surely fell two or three men at once; the spearhead was far too long.

His shoulders were broad, but the torso visible through the gaps in his mantle seemed slender for his height. His limbs were unnaturally long, and he walked with a slight stoop. And—he wore no armor. His entire body was covered in striped, jet-black fur, and a long, bushy tail protruded from a slit in his mantle.

Most striking of all was his face, covered in the same black fur. While Toto and his fellow Minya differed from humans only in the cat ears on their heads, this creature’s only similarities to a human were that it grasped things with its hands and walked on two legs. Otherwise, it was almost entirely wolf. It had a long snout, and long fangs protruded from its misaligned upper and lower jaws. Pointed beast ears stuck out from its shaggy brown hair, and between the strands of hair, golden eyes burned brightly.

"A werewolf…" Toto whispered. He had heard rumors that in the vast wilderness to the east of the Grapeland Sea, ruled by the Jamkaja Tribe, there lived races of mixed human and beast, but this was the first time he had seen one.

Without realizing it, the hair on his arms stood on end.

He had some skill in martial arts, and his sword master had even certified him as the "fifth-best swordsman in the Gato Kingdom," but Toto couldn’t imagine how he would handle a confrontation with this werewolf. To defeat it with a rapier, he would have to get in close and aim for its legs, but if he closed the distance, he would likely be met with fangs and claws. Though large, its bent, beast-like legs suggested it was also agile.

"Terrifying… Is he going to live with Artemisia too…?" The second princess, Lulu, let a hint of fear creep into her voice. The werewolf exuded such an extraordinary killing intent that it was no wonder a lady would be frightened.

"...Artemisia is not permitted to bring any property, clothing, or handmaidens into the kingdom. The only thing King Dada allowed was a single exclusive knight. And that monster is the one they chose," Gaga said coldly. Ahead of them, the werewolf planted the butt of his halberd on the ground and stood at attention beside the gangplank.

As his palpable killing intent settled over the pier, unnerving the welcoming party—

The pure and graceful presence of the girl who appeared next on the upper deck swept away the grim atmosphere.

"...!"

Once again, a gasp went through the squires, and the three royals—Gaga, Toto, and Lulu—felt the air shift.

Artemisia, the eldest daughter of the Black Rose Knights’ Commander Ilias, descended the gangplank with elegant steps.

Silver hair so long it reached her waist. Under long lashes, her deep purple eyes held a touch of melancholy. A silver bodice, a silver train, and a silver hoop skirt with whalebone supports from which her long, slender legs extended, ending in silver half-boots. Only the rose at her collar, her hair ornament, and the embroidery on her hem were black; everything else was silver.

Stepping onto the pier, Artemisia turned to face Gaga, Lulu, and Toto. She took the hem of her skirt in both hands, drew her left foot back, and curtsied gracefully. Gaga and Toto placed their right hands over their chests and bowed their heads, while Lulu curtsied in return.




As Artemisia raised her head, her deep purple eyes met Toto’s.

The guiltless gaze, like a shifting starry sky, transformed into an electric current that shot through him.

He felt the nickname "Jewel of the Grapeland Sea" hardly did her justice. "Jewel of the Northdia Continent" or even "Jewel of the World" would not be an exaggeration… his stunned mind whispered to him.

Artemisia lowered her gaze slightly, her tense expression falling to the ground.

Toto could feel his own heart pounding.

This girl is my sister, starting today…

The mere thought made his heart race.

After Artemisia, the nobleman who had accompanied her as Commander Ilias’s proxy and his two squires descended to the pier. They respectfully knelt before Gaga and the others, bowed their heads in silent greeting, and began their formal address. A squire held up a portrait of Artemisia, identical to the one sent to the Gato Kingdom beforehand, and the nobleman swore that this was indeed her, explaining her noble lineage in a lengthy speech, none of which registered in Toto’s ears.

An emissary of the King of Gato, who had been waiting, stepped forward and introduced the first prince, Gaga, the second prince, Toto, and the second princess, Lulu, to Artemisia, apologizing that the first princess, Chouchou, was not present due to illness.

When the greetings from both sides were finished, Artemisia boarded the welcoming carriage. The nobleman from the Black Rose Knights, his two squires, and the werewolf Royal Guard surrounded it as an escort. The second princess, Lulu, her face wreathed in smiles, joined Artemisia in the carriage to keep her company on the way.

Gaga and Toto mounted their horses and moved to the front of the carriage to serve as guides.

Toto reined his horse in beside Gaga’s and looked back at the two-horse carriage following them. He couldn’t see inside, but he was sure Lulu was chattering away to Artemisia in her usual cheerful manner. He could tell from Lulu’s sparkling smile that she had taken an instant liking to Artemisia.

Toto’s heart had been pounding ever since Artemisia appeared.

What is this? I’m so excited…

From now on, every day is going to be fun.

Without realizing it, Toto found himself thinking such things. There would be an opportunity to talk with Artemisia at the banquet. What kind of voice did this unexpected new sister have, and what would she talk about? What would she look like when she smiled…?

*

Inside the carriage, Lulu, sitting opposite Artemisia, was chatting with a cheerful smile.

She showered Artemisia with praise, complimenting her appearance, the rose embroidery on her train, her sophisticated, fashionable bodice, and her stunning figure, before asking, "Hey, is it okay if I call you Misha?"

At her words, Artemisia looked a little startled.

"Misha… Is that a nickname for me?"

"Oh, is it not okay? I was just wondering what I should call you…" Lulu said, looking slightly embarrassed. Artemisia offered a faint, awkward smile.

"Misha… It has a lovely sound. It’s similar to Minya."

"Oh, you like it!? Yay! It’s easy to say, isn’t it, Misha?"

To the innocently delighted Lulu, Artemisia now posed a question.

"Um… What should I call Your Highness Lulu?"

"You don’t need the ‘Highness’! Lulu is fine. Or, you can call me Big Sister!"

Artemisia was speechless for a moment at those words.

"...That would be… far too impolite."

"Huh? Why? We’re family, aren’t we?"

Artemisia looked away from the genuinely puzzled Lulu, as if finding it difficult to speak.

"Um… I am His Majesty King Dada’s ward. I came here to be executed should the Black Rose Knights ever defy the Gato Kingdom. In other words, I am a hostage… For someone like me to call Your Highness ‘Big Sister’…"

"Oh…" Lulu let out a sad sound, then crossed her arms in thought before looking up with a serious expression.

"None of us siblings think of you that way."

"........."

"We’re truly happy to have a new sister. Our eldest sister, Chouchou, isn’t here today, but she’s very happy too. There may be all sorts of adult circumstances, but I think we can get along regardless of all that. So… I want you to stop thinking of yourself as a hostage and hold your head high as a royal of the Gato Kingdom."

Lulu spoke with sincerity.

As Artemisia listened, her eyes flickered with suspicion.

"Um… I have never entertained such an audacious thought…"

Lowering her gaze, Artemisia barely managed to form the words. Lulu quickly forced a smile.

"Oh, sorry, was I being a little too forward? I guess it’s confusing to be told something like this all of a sudden, since we’ve been enemies for so long… But it’s true that we siblings feel this way. We’d be happy if you could slowly get used to it."

"Oh, no, um… I don’t have any siblings, and I’ve never played with children my own age, so… There will be many times when I don’t know how to act, but I will do my best not to be disrespectful…"

Lulu offered a troubled smile at Artemisia’s awkward response and tried to steer the conversation to more trivial topics.

The carriage descended the winding mountain road, enclosed by a canopy of trees, and soon the valley opened up. Lulu looked back and pointed out the window, toward the top of the mountain they had just come down.

"Look, Misha. That’s the Demon Lord’s Tower."

Artemisia lifted her deep purple eyes in the indicated direction.

A U-shaped, jet-black tower protruded from the green mountainside, which traced a gentle ridgeline. Birds that had taken flight from the sea of trees circled the tower once before disappearing into the blue beyond.

"........."

Artemisia gasped, looking up at the distant, hazy tower. It was a relic of a nightmare, known to all who lived in this world.

Fifteen hundred years ago, the Demon Lord Lucifer had descended upon that tower.

Monsters born from Lucifer flooded the world, wiping out civilizations across the globe. The Oyashima Tribe, who had originally lived on Gato Island, were also annihilated by Lucifer, and in their place, the Cat-eared Minya Tribe, who had been Lucifer’s kin, became the masters of the island. Even after Lucifer was defeated by the hero Yamata, the Minya survived persecution, and now, under the rule of King Dada, they have prospered as the most powerful force in the Grapeland Sea.

"You probably already know this, but we Minya were originally monsters that came out of that tower. That’s why some people still call us ‘demons,’ but very few Minya still worship Lucifer. We’re not hostile to the Oyashima Tribe anymore, either. In fact, the Chancellor of the Gato Kingdom, Nanahara, is from the Oyashima Tribe. We want to live together with humans."

Lulu said this, then glanced sideways at Artemisia, as if gauging her reaction.

Artemisia gazed at the ominous tower in the distance, her expression serious.

"...Any human who still believes the Minya are demons must be sorely lacking in intelligence and education. History has proven that the Minya do not favor conflict and have always resolved problems through negotiation. The current prosperity of the Gato Kingdom is also a result of trade, not war. The Minya have shown through their actions that it is possible for a nation to prosper without resorting to violence."

Lulu thought that Artemisia must have practiced those lines. She had likely been taught what to say and do to avoid unnecessary conflict before her departure. Artemisia knew the words she needed to survive among the Minya.

Lulu smiled brightly.

"Thank you. I know many humans dislike us, but I also know there are many good humans. You are a very good person, Misha."

She thanked her and, as if to show affection, wiggled her cat ears back and forth. The prejudice humans held against the Minya ran deep, and it was said that some among the Oyashima Tribe still bore a grudge for being driven from their homeland fifteen hundred years ago and held the eradication of the Minya as their lifelong ambition.

"Let’s go to the Demon Lord’s Tower sometime. The basement is a Miasma Vein, and sometimes you can find sacred relics there. Engines, mechanical soldiers… Oh, look, an airplane."

Lulu pointed to the northern sky.

Looking in the direction she indicated, they saw a winged vehicle flying through the blue sky, trailing a white line behind it.

The sound of its engine could be heard even inside the carriage.

Artemisia had heard rumors of the "airplane" owned by the Gato Kingdom. She recalled that the First Prince, Gaga, had paid a high salary to hire a pilot and mechanic with specialized skills. It was said to be able to fly far above the Floating Sphere, much faster than a high-speed galley, ascend and descend at will, and land on any flat ground.

"Is that an airplane…? It can fly very high."

"Its name is the Falco. Engines are particularly valuable among sacred relics, and the one on the Falco is said to be especially good. The only ones who can maintain it are Noah and Leonardo, who are flying it now…"

The biplane began a leisurely turn. Its silhouette disappeared behind the mountains, and only the distant sound of its engine remained. Lulu and Artemisia turned their gazes forward again. On both sides of the road, thatched-roof houses began to appear. Minya wearing hats with holes for their ears walked by, carrying bundles of firewood and straw on their backs that were twice their height.

"Oh, you can see the castle now."

Where Lulu pointed, beyond a gently rolling green meadow, a long castle wall had been built on a terraced landscape. A magnificent main tower stood on the highest terrace, and from there, towers, churches, enclosing walls, and red-roofed houses were packed tightly together, descending the slope to meet the long wall.

The buildings’ walls were white and their roofs red, making the entire castle look like a white canvas with red horizontal lines and scattered red polka dots. At first glance, it had a peaceful appearance, but upon closer inspection, one could see rows of cannons set up on the terraces, and watchtowers and gatehouses stood imposingly at the bends in the long wall. If one were to attack that castle from the ground, the batteries, arranged like the quills of a hedgehog, would spew fire, and the sky would be filled with burning cannonballs. The Gato Kingdom Castle, the heart of the kingdom, was indeed a formidable fortress city.

"It’s a magnificent city. The walls are high, and it’s very large."

"Thanks to Dr. Vogstock, castle walls don’t mean much anymore. But our air fleet has become our new wall, protecting this island."

Eighty years ago, the discovery of Vogstock Particles by Dr. Iguis Vogstock ushered in the age of air sailboats. Castle walls lost their meaning, and the great powers of the Grapeland Sea became embroiled in bloody struggles over airspace where Floating Stones were abundant and forests with trees over a hundred years old.

"The Gattoland Air Fleet is the strongest in the world. Only a fool who doesn’t know their place would dare to challenge this island."

Lulu received Artemisia’s smooth compliment with a faint smile. She knew it was flattery, and she also understood that the city-states of the Grapeland Sea, including the Black Rose Knights, would form an alliance to challenge the Gattoland Air Fleet if given the chance.

She must be terrified on the inside, being forced to join the ranks of the ‘demons,’ Misha.

But I want her to understand. The Minya aren’t dangerous…

By living here on this island among the Minya, might Artemisia one day become a bridge between humans and Minya? It might be a selfish hope, but Lulu believed that a person with influence over both humans and Minya was essential to ending the thousand-year-long struggle between the great powers of the Grapeland Sea. Artemisia, who from this day forward would be a member of the Gato royal family, could be that bridge to coexistence beyond race.

The Gato Kingdom Castle, with its base colors of white, red, and the indigo of the castle walls, drew closer. Townspeople and farmers who noticed Artemisia ran up, and instead of waving, they took off their hats and wiggled their protruding cat ears to show their welcome. Lulu smiled and wiggled her cat ears in return, while Artemisia, who had no cat ears, waved from the carriage window.

At the edge of Artemisia’s vision, the biplane Falco came into view again. It had been circling the island, likely patrolling the airspace around the Gato Kingdom for suspicious airships. With a craft that small and fast, it would be foolish not to use it for patrol missions. As long as that plane existed, a thirty-kilometer radius around the Gato Kingdom was under constant surveillance. This meant that a surprise attack by an air fleet was impossible for the great powers of the Grapeland Sea.

The Falco spread its wings leisurely and descended toward the top of the mountain, near the Demon Lord’s Tower.

"........."

Artemisia watched the Falco’s silhouette for a moment before silently turning her eyes forward again.

The carriage was about to pass through the first gate tower leading to the main keep.

*

†††

*

At the "Misshapen Mountain Mining Site," very close to the Demon Lord’s Tower.

After landing on the Falco’s dedicated runway next to the site and taxiing into the hangar, pilot Noah Linoa disengaged the engine shaft from the tail propeller. Once she confirmed the propeller had stopped, she shut down the miasma engine. The mechanic in the co-pilot’s seat, Leonardo, closed the fuel valve as two apprentice mechanics rushed over.

"The skies were clear yesterday and today. It’s almost boring when it’s this peaceful, isn’t it?"

Having finished today’s reconnaissance mission, Noah said this to Leonardo beside her. She swung her leg from the cockpit to the wing root and jumped to the ground. Leonardo just nodded in response and began inspecting the miasma engine with the apprentices.

Leonardo opened the boiler section of the miasma engine at the tail and scraped out the burnt miasma ore residue with a small spoon. Then, he added a new piece of bluish-black miasma ore about the size of a mouse. With just this much fuel and water, the Falco could fly for a whole day.

"Well, Leo, see you later. I have a party to get to."

"........."

As Noah waved with a smile, Leonardo, with his usual deadpan expression, just gave a silent nod. It wasn’t that he couldn’t speak; the extremely taciturn Leonardo simply used hand signals to direct his two subordinates as they began inspecting the miasma engine and other parts of the aircraft.

Exiting the hangar, Noah pushed her goggles up onto her forehead and ran a hand through her black hair. The April sunlight glittered, scattering at the ends of her tied-back hair. As a human, she had no cat ears. With a determined look in her slightly upturned blue-green eyes, Noah walked briskly toward her tent. Normally, this would be her free time, but today an invitation to Artemisia’s welcoming ceremony had arrived from the castle.

"Ugh. What a pain, but I have to go."

King Dada held banquets whenever he had a spare moment, inviting guests from all over the Grapeland Sea to display the power of the Gato Kingdom. She didn’t want to go because there would be a lot of boorish idiots, but she had no choice, as she couldn’t maintain the Falco without the support of the Gato royal family.

In a corner of the "Misshapen Mountain Mining Site," Noah changed in the noble’s campaign tent assigned to her, putting on a glossy red dress, and headed for the station building.




Around her, slave miners, their feet bound in chains, walked awkwardly as they pushed carts filled with pickaxes, hammers, and shovels, heading into the depths of the mine tunnels while being yelled at by Minya overseers. Miasma ore emitted toxic fumes, so all the miners who worked here were either slaves or serious criminals. Working here every day, most of them would contract a skin disease called "Polka Dot Disease" within three years, their bodies breaking out in blue, polka-dot-like patterns before they died. Of the three hundred miners currently working, the longest-serving one was in his sixth year, which meant that most died from the disease within five.

From the mine tunnel that led to the underground labyrinth of the Demon Lord’s Tower, miners covered in bluish-black grime emerged, pushing carts laden with miasma ore to the refinery. They were all ordinary humans, with no cat ears on their heads. They had been captured as prisoners of war or abducted from their homes by the kingdom’s army and brought here. A Minya overseer whipped a miner’s bare back, yelling at him to move faster.

I’m so glad I can fly the Falco…

Noah thought this to herself, glancing at the pitiable slaves. Though she was a human with no cat ears, her special skills in piloting and maintaining the Falco had earned her a high salary, guaranteed food and lodging, and even tolerance for her rough way of speaking.

Soon, she reached the mining site’s station. When going to the castle, she would usually rent a post horse here, but since she was in a dress today, she decided to take the public carriage bound for the castle.

Just then, a Gattoland knight with a flippant smile, his white mantle with a red border fluttering, approached her on his bay warhorse.

"Hey, Noah, that dress looks good on you. Your flight suit is nice, but this isn’t half bad either. You’re heading to the ceremony, right? I’ll give you a ride, hop on behind me."

The handsome knight gestured with his chin to the back of his saddle, his cat ears twitching as he smiled brightly.

Noah’s expression soured.

"No thanks. I’d rather go with anyone but you."

Despite her rejection, the Gattoland knight, Gasper Natale, his handsome features brimming with absolute confidence, said, "So cold. Just be honest with yourself, Noah Linoa. Why do you refuse me? I may be the son of a concubine, but I’m still a prince of this country."

Letting out a weary sigh, Noah muttered to herself, "There are too many princes in this country. And they’re all idiots."

"I heard that. True, there are enough princes to shake a stick at. But the number of princes who earned their title through skill can be counted on one hand. And I’m the middle finger of that hand. Don’t lump me in with those other idiots."

With a conceited tone, Gasper leaned closer, his gaze on Noah now tinged with seduction.

He had wavy golden hair, a confident mouth, sharp eyes, and a high-bridged nose. Normally, Gasper dressed casually for his job supervising the slaves at the mining site, but today, under his white cat crest mantle, he wore the formal uniform of the Gato Kingdom army: a white jacket with epaulets, a rapier at his sword belt, and leather military boots over white trousers. The way he held the reins of his warhorse was as beautiful as a knight from a picture book. But.

"Go flirt with some loose woman. My only love is the Falco. I’m not interested in you."

It was true that Gasper was popular with the town girls, and she had heard that some of them even came all the way up to this remote mountain peak just to see him. But Noah couldn’t stand being lumped in with such shallow girls.

"Hey, now, are you going to waste your precious time on a vehicle? There are plenty of things more interesting than an airplane. Especially today’s ceremony—with the Black Rose princess and a werewolf, it’s bound to get wild. Come with me, Noah. I’ll give you a front-row seat to a spectacle that will be talked about for the next hundred years."

Turning her back on Gasper’s words, Noah boarded the noble’s carriage and greeted the merchants and nobles already inside with a friendly smile. Then, she opened the gauze curtain and glared at Gasper through the window.

"Are you planning to cause a scene again?"

"‘Cause a scene’? How rude. I fight for the honor of a knight."

"In my book, that’s what barbarians do. Don’t the Minya want peace?"

"It is because there is peace that we duel. It’s also one of the few ways a disposable prince like me can rise. …You should accept the offer of a future general while you can, Noah. Otherwise, you’ll regret it later."

In response to Gasper’s words, Noah stuck out her tongue at him with a great akanbe, and then shut the curtain with a sharp shat.

*

The public carriage carrying Noah departed for the castle, leaving behind the peaceful clatter of hooves.

A boy in the same formal Gato Kingdom army uniform as Gasper approached on his dapple-gray warhorse, coming to a stop beside him.

"Do you die if you don’t flirt with every girl you see?" the boy asked, studying Gasper’s profile with a calm tone.

"How rude, Jangiacques. I only flirt with women who strike me like a bolt of lightning from fate."

Jangiacques Natale, a knight of the Gato Kingdom, placed a fist under his chin and fell into thought. He had silver hair with hints of pale pink showing through. In contrast to his calm tone, his eyes were a burning crimson. A bastard sword hung at his belt. A single cat ear, a characteristic of a half-Minya born to a human and a Minya, twitched.

"Your obsession with women is abnormal. You’re just like King Dada. I guess it can’t be helped since you’re his son. By the way, are you planning to start another duel? You just had a big one not long ago."

Gasper chuckled, giving Jangiacques a scornful look out of the corner of his eye.

"Modesty will be your ruin, Jangiacques. Are you just going to sit here and accept your fate of dying covered in polka dots in five years? I won’t end as ‘Natale, son of a concubine.’ I will use every ability I was born with to rise, and I will share my bed with countless beautiful princesses!"

"Good luck with that. But I think you’ve been a bit too reckless lately. My intuition is chirping that you’re going to die soon, but what’s your take on it?"

Jangiacques asked, sounding exasperated as he scratched the base of the wooden "fake ear" shaped like his left cat ear. Gasper gave a fearless smile.

"You know that I am a Successor of a Holy Orb, don’t you?"

"........."

"Once you become a Successor, you’ll understand. This is an invincible power. As long as I have this power, I will never lose a duel, no matter who my opponent is."

Suddenly—a pale green pattern materialized behind Gasper.

Like the halo of a divine statue, foreign characters, wreathed in a curtain of faint, aurora-like light, hovered behind him.

They were said to be characters of the Oyashima Tribe, but Jangiacques didn’t know how to read them.

Gasper curled his lip.

"Right now, I am a match for both Gaga and Toto. I am the greatest swordsman in the kingdom."

After his declaration, the curtain of light vanished. The floating characters dissolved like crumbling sand, and the familiar scenery returned.

Gasper, who was born to one of the castle laundresses, had slipped into the princes’ sword training as a child and been recognized by the master instructor, allowing him to train alongside them. From Jangiacques’s perspective, it was true that Gasper’s skill, now augmented by the Holy Orb, rivaled that of the two princes.

But.

"You’re not planning to duel a prince, are you?"

"If I were allowed, I wouldn’t mind. Do you think I would lose to them?"

"........."

At the question, Jangiacques thought for a moment. In the two years since they had met here, he and Gasper had fought ferocious drum worms together in the labyrinth, shared a secret they had accidentally discovered deep in the mine tunnels, and trained with their swords in their spare time. He had the skill, the Holy Orb, and a trump card. It was true, as Gasper said, that he might be the strongest in the kingdom when it came to dueling. But.

"During training, I don’t think Prince Toto goes all out."

Jangiacques had sparred with Toto several times in the Gato Kingdom Castle’s training grounds. On those occasions, Toto had clearly been holding back.

"He’s probably being considerate of Prince Gaga. In my opinion, the strongest swordsman in the kingdom is either you or Prince Toto."

To Jangiacques’s surprise, Gasper nodded in agreement with his assessment.

"What a coincidence. I think so too. Gaga is strong, but he’s too straightforward with his power. There’s no foreshadowing, no calculation, nothing, so it’s easy to trap him. I pretend to lose during training, but in a real fight, I’m confident I could take him down. But Toto clearly restrains his true abilities. He knows that if the younger brother outshines the older one, it could lead to civil war. That’s why he holds back even when sparring with me. I don’t know how strong he would be if he got serious, but his true strength would likely be revealed on the battlefield. Whether that’s above or below me, I can’t say at this point."

Jangiacques had expected Gasper to argue, so he was surprised that he readily acknowledged Toto’s skill. He had a newfound respect for Gasper’s perceptiveness, and it reaffirmed just how great the hidden aptitude of the second prince, Toto, was, that even the arrogant Gasper had to admit it.

Then, Gasper smirked and added, "Speaking of which, you also blatantly held back against Prince Toto, didn’t you?"

At that, Jangiacques sighed. So Gasper had noticed that too. He was more observant than he had thought.

"...There’s no point in fighting seriously against someone who’s holding back."

As Gasper had said, during their match, Jangiacques had noticed Toto was holding back, so he had held back as well. He had thought only Toto had realized.

"The temperament you hide is far more ferocious than mine."

Gasper said this as if he had seen through him. Jangiacques’s mouth twisted into a frown.

"That’s a terrible insult. I’m hurt."

"It’s the truth. Sometimes, you scare me."

With a tone that was hard to tell if it was a joke or serious, Gasper gazed at the distant palace, stretched, and smiled.

"Well, let’s go. To the grand stage we’ve been waiting for."

"Your grand stage. I’m not doing anything."

"You should have a little ambition. Is ‘she’ in the depths of the mine the only thing you desire?"

His sore spot having been poked, Jangiacques’s mouth twisted into a frown again.

"...Maybe so. Rather than having foolish ambitions, I… I like spending time with ‘her.’"

At his honest admission, Gasper gave a faint smile.

"You tease me for being a womanizer, but you’re quite something yourself. But that is an ancient doll. Not human, and not even alive."

"...I know. ...It’s not love. ...It’s just… when I look at her, my heart calms down for some reason. That’s all."

Gasper’s smile was tinged with pity. He tapped the reins and turned his horse toward the castle.

"So you’re going to die covered in polka dots? I’d rather not have a life like that. Tonight, I will become not a disposable prince who dies in a dumpster, but a prince with the right of succession."

Jangiacques watched the raging Gasper out of the corner of his eye and sighed. Even if he did get it, there were still four true heirs above him.

"This is going to be a drag. It looks like it’s going to be quite a ceremony."

"Any poet present is lucky. It will be a night sung about for the next hundred years."

Gasper said this with high spirits and spurred his horse forward.

*

†††

*

Artemisia’s welcoming ceremony was held during the day at the Saint Nina Cathedral in the inner bailey of the Gato Kingdom Castle.

Nearly a hundred people—knights, nobles, wealthy merchants, intellectuals, and cultural figures from the cities around the Grapeland Sea—had gathered. Upon entering the inner bailey, they entrusted their weapons to their squires, who were to wait for their masters in the outer bailey until the banquet was over.

Inside the cathedral, King Dada Gattoland VII declared to the attendees that he was welcoming Artemisia, the daughter of the Black Rose Knights’ Commander Ilias, into the Gato royal family as his ward. Artemisia herself swore to look up to King Dada as her father and to strive for the prosperity of the Gato royal family, and the audience responded with applause and cheers.

Afterward, the prominent nobles and their representatives, great merchants, priests, scholars, and wealthy individuals from the Granadio Seven City Alliance of the Upper Jaw Peninsula and the Apollodeo Four City Pact of the Lower Jaw Peninsula formed a line and offered their congratulations one by one. A courtier who had memorized the faces, names, and ranks of all the attendees would whisper the information to the queen, who would then offer a witty remark to each person. Toto Gattoland, watching the endless stream of faces coming and going, pretended to listen to the congratulatory speeches while occasionally glancing out of the corner of his eye at his new stepsister.

Artemisia’s loveliness had long been the talk of the lords of the Grapeland Sea. His mother, Queen Mariana, was said to be renowned as the "Most Beautiful Woman in the Grapeland Sea" even on the Northdia Continent, despite having given birth to four children. But Artemisia possessed a different kind of radiance, a special brilliance that only a girl of her age could have. From the beginning of the ceremony, the gazes of the middle-aged nobles in the cathedral had been shifting back and forth between Queen Mariana and the third princess, Artemisia. Even Toto, who had grown accustomed to his mother’s beauty, would sometimes find his eyes drifting to Artemisia’s profile, captivated.

"Is Princess Chouchou unwell?"

Startled by the question from the elderly nobleman in front of him, Toto straightened his back. It was Viscount Salpedon, Harry Stratos, a nobleman in his seventies with white hair and a white beard. This nobleman, a distant relative of the Gattoland Royal Family, was one of the few attendees who was concerned about the absence of the first princess, Chouchou.

"Thank you for your concern. My sister has been bedridden for the past few years."

"Ah, that is a shame. I pray for her recovery. Princess Chouchou has had a talent for music since she was a child, and I had very high hopes for her future… Please convey to Princess Chouchou that she is welcome to come to Salpedon for her convalescence. It is a warm land with abundant fruit; I am sure the sea breeze will blow away any illness…"

Toto thanked Viscount Salpedon and promised to convey his words to Chouchou.

In the shadow of the attention showered on Queen Mariana and the third princess, Artemisia, the first princess, Chouchou Gattoland, who had been blind since birth, was once again shut away in her room. King Dada did not wish for his visually impaired child to appear in public, and on occasions like this, Chouchou was always reported as being ill.

According to the teachings of the Holy Juno Orthodox Church, the cause of disabilities lay in the "sins of one’s ancestors." Royal and noble families, who particularly valued their family names, were loath to let it be known that such a child had been born into their house. Thus, despite being the legitimate heir of the Gato royal family, Chouchou was treated by King Dada as a "child who does not exist." At twenty-two, she was still unmarried and spent her days alone in a small tower on the edge of the inner bailey, with only her musical instruments for friends.

Toto himself rarely saw Chouchou anymore. When he was a child, he had visited his sister in her tower several times, but her disability made it difficult for them to play together, and as he made friends his own age, his visits grew less frequent.

I have to introduce Artemisia to Chouchou, too. She’s an important new member of our family…

With such thoughts, he waited for the long line of well-wishers to end.

*

At dusk, the members of the Gato royal family and their hundred guests finally left the cathedral and moved to the inner bailey’s square for a banquet. The festival-loving King Dada had held a large-scale banquet just two weeks ago to commemorate the treaty of friendship with the Black Rose Knights, but this time too, he had thrown a lavish feast, flaunting his abundant wealth.

Under the twilight sky, wires were strung between a dozen iron poles in the square, from which hung hundreds of lanterns. Stalls were set up, offering free food from various regions, not just the Grapeland Sea but even the surrounding islands of the Sea of Rocks: lamb steak, roasted fattened chicken with herbs, sautéed quail, lamprey pie, boiled crab, spiced lobster, wild boar rib steak, apple chips, Gato-nougat, and pear stewed in wine. An orchestra played lively music with flutes and drums.

Soon, stars began to twinkle in the sky, and the lanterns on the wires were lit. Each lantern was covered with colored parchment, and the pools of green, red, and yellow light dyed the square in fantastical colors. Barrels of wine, whiskey, ale, and beer were opened one after another, and prostitutes mingled with the crowd. The high-spirited young knights were also served alcohol, and their words gradually grew rougher.

Eventually, King Dada, flanked by two armed Royal Guards, descended from the high seat into the square and began to mingle with the knights from other cities. He wore no mantle, surcoat, or jacket; his sculpted upper body, covered in sword scars, was bare except for a golden pectoral and a sword belt.

He was sixty-three years old. The countless slash and stab wounds on his torso told the story of a king who had continued to fight on the front lines. It was nothing short of brute courage, but it was also a fact that since Dada’s ascension to the throne, the Gato Kingdom had been virtually undefeated in battle, rising to become the leader of the Grapeland Sea in a single generation. The knights from other cities who came face to face with King Dada were delighted to be able to drink with the king and raised their mugs high.

"Glory to His Majesty King Dada!" "To the friendship between the Gato Kingdom and the Apollodeo Lower Jaw Peninsula!" "His Majesty King Dada’s valor echoes even to our Upper Jaw Peninsula of Granadio!"

They praised King Dada with one voice. Some were thoroughly drunk and approached the king so closely that they had to be stopped by the Royal Guards.

"Your Majesty King Dada! Please, could you show us the power of the Holy Orb of Benevolence!? I have always wished to see the famous Firebird with my own eyes!"

A drunken, middle-aged knight from the Granadio Seven City Alliance, judging by his red and gold-trimmed attire, made a selfish request to the king.

"Hah!" King Dada laughed. "You want to see it? I can show you."

"R-Really!? T-That is most generous! I will tell this story for generations to come!"

"But the Firebird can’t return to the underworld empty-handed. Can I let it take you as a souvenir?"

The drunken knight stared at the calmly smiling king with a blank expression for a moment, then, realizing the meaning of his words, laughed a high-pitched, "Wahahaha!"

"My apologies! Please, try it on another knight! I am merely an observer!"

"What’s this, you’re so modest! When we meet on the battlefield, I’ll send it flying right at you. You can watch it up close!"

King Dada put his arm around the drunken Granadio knight and roared with laughter. The crowd, though slightly bewildered by a king who would put his arm around a knight who was a complete stranger, cheered and raised their mugs.

"To Dada’s valor!" "To the renowned Holy Orb of Benevolence!" "To the invincible Firebird!"

The night wind blew, and sparks from the bonfire danced up into the starry sky. The banquet had only just begun; everyone among the hundred guests present knew that the night was still young…

*

Weaving through the shouts, yells, screams, the peaceful melody of the flutes and drums that played on regardless, and the high-pitched laughter of the prostitutes, Toto tried to speak to Artemisia, who was sitting beside him.

"His Majesty King Dada loves festivals. He holds a banquet at least once a month. I wish he would drink a little more elegantly, though…"

Artemisia, who had not moved from the seat of honor on the high platform since the beginning of the banquet, turned her deep purple eyes, which reflected the stars, to Toto.

"Ah… It’s very lively, isn’t it?" she answered awkwardly, then looked down.

Silence. Toto felt somehow out of place. He was uncomfortable having his new sister see this boisterous, barbaric banquet that seemed to encourage fighting. If his sister Lulu were here, she would surely be making fun of the adults in her usual lighthearted manner, but she was currently away greeting distant relatives. The first prince, Gaga, had also gone off somewhere with his entourage, leaving only Toto, Artemisia, and Queen Mariana at the seat of honor.

Just then, Queen Mariana, who had been sitting in silence, spoke to Toto.

"Toto, why don’t you take Artemisia to the food stalls? There are many unusual sweets out."

Peeking out from the opening of her pure white gown was a golden lining. She prompted him with a faint smile. Her cat-eared hair was adorned with gold filigree, and her chest was decorated with a pearl and gold necklace. Though a mother of four, Queen Mariana was magically youthful, and next to Artemisia, they looked like sisters. In such a setting, Toto could see that most of the male guests were gazing at the queen with rapt expressions. Toto nodded awkwardly and turned to his stepsister.

"It’s boring just sitting here, isn’t it? Shall we take a little walk?"

"Oh, yes. …I’d be delighted."

Artemisia accepted Toto’s offer in her usual hesitant manner.

As the two of them were about to walk side by side toward the food stalls set up on the outer edge of the courtyard where the attendees were carousing, the werewolf stood up straight behind Artemisia.

"Ah…"

Toto turned to the werewolf and let out an involuntary sound.

"..............."

The werewolf, without a word, stood about three paces behind them, his jet-black mantle fluttering in the wind. He had left his massive halberd with a squire in the outer bailey, so he was unarmed, but the canines protruding from his closed jaws and the claws on his hands gave off a sinister, dull gleam.

Toto silently looked up at the werewolf’s massive frame. He could feel a pressure emanating from the body that was a seamless blend of suppleness and strength. He wondered what steps he would take to defeat this creature if they faced each other on the battlefield as he spoke to him.

"Hello. May I ask your name?"

"..............."

The werewolf did not answer. As Artemisia’s exclusive knight, he was under no obligation to show Toto any courtesy, but was this a deliberate snub, or did he simply not understand human speech? Unable to judge, Toto turned to Artemisia.

"...Please forgive his rudeness, Prince Toto. Though he is a knight of the Black Rose Knights, he is of slave origin and does not know proper etiquette."

Artemisia blushed and said this with embarrassment, then looked up at the werewolf.

"State your name to Prince Toto."

At her sharp command, the werewolf lowered his gaze slightly and said, "I am Laggy Daylight, knight to Her Highness Princess Artemisia, Prince Toto."

Laggy’s words sounded much like a human’s, and they carried an air of intelligence. Toto nodded.

"To be knighted from slavery, does that mean you are from the colosseum on Athena Island?"

"...Indeed."

The Black Rose Knights’ base, Athena Island, had a colosseum that had existed for over a thousand years, where slave gladiators fought bloody battles day and night. The rule was death for the loser, and honor and a lavish meal for the winner. This cycle repeated endlessly, and the one champion out of hundreds would be knighted and allowed to leave the colosseum. The Laggy before him was one of the chosen few who had survived that hell.

"I would like to spar with you in the training grounds someday, Sir Laggy."

"...With all due respect, I must decline. I once seriously injured a nobleman’s son and was nearly executed for it."

Laggy said this curtly and turned his gaze to the empty sky.

Artemisia’s face went pale.

"Sir Laggy, refrain from such speech…!"

Her voice trembled at the end, whether from anger or fear. Toto, as if to calm them, looked at both Artemisia and Laggy and said, "No, he means no insult. …I understand, Sir Laggy. However, I have been injured many times by common soldiers in the training grounds, and I have never punished them for it. There is no point in training if you don’t go all out. So, I hope to spar with you soon."

At his mediation, Laggy turned his gleaming eyes to Toto.

"...As Your Highness wishes. However, I am incapable of holding back, so you will need to be prepared accordingly when we face each other…"

He dropped the words softly. Depending on how one took it, it could sound like a threat, but from the werewolf’s expression, Toto could tell there was no sarcasm or mockery, and that he was simply speaking his mind honestly.

"I will remember that, Sir Laggy. I will stand before you with resolve, even in training."

Having confirmed that he could communicate with this werewolf, though he lacked proper etiquette, Toto turned his eyes back to his side.

"Lord Ilias has given you a reassuring guard, Misha."

"...In matters of martial arts. As for etiquette, I apologize that our education has been insufficient. It is my father’s wish that he be taught to obey only my commands…"

Artemisia apologized and lowered her eyes.

There’s no need to be so deferential.

Toto sighed inwardly. He knew because he had been sitting next to her for so long, but even after the banquet began, Artemisia had maintained a tense expression, her nerves on edge. It was understandable that she would be nervous, having been brought to an unknown land and suddenly become family with strangers, but Toto found her state painful to watch. He wanted her to slowly get used to this place and one day relax as if it were her own home.

"There’s a nougat stall over there. It’s a specialty of Gato Island and popular with the girls. Let’s go have a look."

When he invited her again, Artemisia nodded awkwardly and walked a little behind Toto. Her exclusive knight, Laggy, followed behind them, keeping a distance of about three paces as always.

"Oh, it’s Prince Toto!" "A pleasure to see you, Princess Artemisia!"

Guests and knights who noticed them offered greetings, and Toto exchanged brief words with nobles, wealthy merchants, and local dignitaries he knew. Artemisia, who had become a member of the Gato royal family today, was also bewildered at being called "Princess" for the first time, but she responded in accordance with etiquette.

And, as expected, people’s eyes were drawn to the large werewolf following behind them.

Laggy seemed accustomed to being the object of curiosity. He kept his gaze fixed on the empty sky, his misshapen features exposed to the moonlight. Drunken Gattoland knights also looked at Laggy with interest, but none dared to pick a fight with the third princess’s exclusive knight. They could be punished if they incurred King Dada’s displeasure, and Laggy himself looked so terrifying that even in their drunken state, they knew they couldn’t win a fight against him.

Protected by Laggy, Toto and Artemisia walked side by side through the crowd.

The warm night wind blew between them, making Artemisia’s silver hair stream behind her.

A sweet scent like spring flowers tickled Toto’s nostrils. His heart began to pound.

"........."

His gaze drifted to her side.

"...?"

His eyes met Artemisia’s as she happened to look over, and Toto’s cheeks flushed even redder.

"Oh, it’s nothing."

He looked away to hide his embarrassment. Artemisia also looked around uncomfortably, then, as if making up her mind, she lifted her head and put a strength into her deep purple eyes.

".........Um, Prince Toto."

"?"

"...Thank you for your consideration."

"...Eh?"

"...No. ...I mean, thank you for taking the trouble to invite someone like me…"

The strength in her words at the beginning dissipated as she spoke, and by the end, it vanished like smoke. Artemisia bit her lip and lowered her gaze.

He didn’t know how to respond when she was so apologetic.

"Oh, no, it’s because I was bored."

"...Is that so? ...That is… I am most sorry…………"

Artemisia started to say something, then stopped, her eyes darting around again.

We’re not connecting at all.

Artemisia probably wanted to interact with him, too. But they were both so awkward that they didn’t know how to communicate.

Feeling a sense of frustration, Toto reached the stall he was looking for.

A large pot filled with honey, starch syrup, egg whites, sugar, almonds, and dried fruit was being stirred by the owner with a large spatula. On the counter were thin rectangular slices of two-colored nougat, with cute color combinations like white and red, white and yellow, and white and pink.

"Why, it’s Princess Artemisia! We are honored by your visit! Please, have this special batch!"

The stall owner, delighted by the visit of the night’s guest of honor, Artemisia, handed her a small bag of specially made three-colored nougat with a smile. Artemisia accepted it hesitantly, admired the cute colors, and put a piece in her mouth.

"Oh…"

The sweetness of the honey melted on her tongue, and when she bit into it, the nutty aroma burst forth. The scents of strawberry, blueberry, and pear filled her nose. It was a simple yet rich flavor.

"It’s delicious… isn’t it?"

Artemisia turned to Toto, her expression softening slightly. Toto also put a piece in his mouth and smiled faintly.

"Yes. It’s delicious. Do you like it?"

"...Yes. ...Very much."

"I’m glad. There are a lot of other delicious things on this island. Let’s tour the stalls."

"...Yes. ...I’d be delighted."

Artemisia said this and finally smiled.

That first smile he had ever seen was like a nougat made from concentrating all the loveliness in the world, and Toto’s heart melted in an instant.

This sister is too cute…

He couldn’t help but groan inwardly. To keep her from seeing his blushing cheeks, Toto turned his head away and quickened his pace.

Toto and Artemisia toured the stalls, eating apple pie and pear stewed in wine, and drinking apple juice. The smell of roasting meat, burning butter and sugar, heavily spiced stews, wine, whiskey, ale, and the body odor of unwashed men mingled together, making one feel drunk just by walking around. The adults were mostly drinking, and soon, interactions that crossed city lines began, and, as was natural, fistfights broke out.

Fights were an event at the banquet, and the boastful knights who had gathered from all over began to roll up their sleeves, as if to say, "Finally, it’s starting." Since their weapons were with their squires in the outer bailey, it was a bare-knuckle brawl, so the crowd didn’t try to stop them, instead egging them on and placing bets.

Every time a fight broke out, a circle of people would form, and onlookers would gather. The flow of people became more intense, and Toto was in danger of being separated from Artemisia.

"Misha, this way…"

"Oh, yes. …Oh!"

A drunken knight heading to watch the fight nearly bumped into Artemisia, and she stumbled. Toto instinctively reached out and grabbed her hand.

"Ah…"

Through the silk gloves they were both wearing, he felt the cool palm of Artemisia’s hand.

"Ah…"

Artemisia also registered that their hands were joined—.

Smack.

With a sharp sound, Toto’s hand was slapped away.

"Eh…?"

"Ah…"

Toto was surprised, and Artemisia’s eyes widened.

"I-I’m sorry…!" she apologized, her face bright red. Toto, flustered, replied, "No, I’m the one who’s sorry. I startled you…"

It was less of a slap away and more of a forceful swat, so he was a bit bewildered and slightly hurt.

Artemisia, flustered, said, "I-I can’t stand being touched by people… I’ve been like that since I was a child, it’s just my disposition… So…………"

She strung together a series of awkward words. Toto waved his hands in front of his face.

"No, that was my fault! I didn’t know you had a condition like that…!"

"No, um, I hit Your Highness, so…"

"If it’s your disposition, it can’t be helped. I’ll tell my siblings, too. We’re a very hands-on family, so if I don’t tell them first, Lulu will be all over you for no reason…"

As he was apologizing, a voice suddenly came from their side.

"Oh, it’s Prince Toto, and Princess Artemisia!"

A handsome knight stepped out from the circle of people and greeted them. It was a familiar face, one he had sparred with many times in the training grounds.

"Good evening, Sir Gasper. You look well."

Under his wavy golden hair, his sharp eyes and the upturned corners of his mouth were steeped in confidence. Gasper Natale, wearing a mantle with a white cat crest and a military uniform of white with red vertical stripes, turned his handsome face to Artemisia, feeling the gazes of the ladies present on him.

"I am Gasper Natale, guard knight of the Misshapen Mountain Mining Site, Your Highness Princess Artemisia. It is an honor to meet you! You are even more beautiful than the rumors say…!"

Gasper said this with an exaggerated gesture, then turned his gaze from the bewildered Artemisia to the werewolf who stood out a head and shoulders above the crowd behind her, and smiled fearlessly.

Toto had a bad feeling.

"For such a beautiful princess to have such an ugly shield does not sit well with me as a Gattoland knight."

He said this out of the blue.

Oh, no, Toto sighed briefly, realizing he had been caught up in a troublesome situation.

Gasper had probably decided to do this before the banquet even started.

"What say you, Princess Artemisia? How about you dismiss that ugly beast and, from this night forward, have a stronger, more beautiful shield by your side?"

As expected, Gasper said this, then theatrically drew his back foot, and placed a hand over his chest.

Artemisia blinked a couple of times and asked Gasper, "Are you suggesting that I replace Laggy with you as my exclusive knight?"

"Precisely, Your Highness."

Artemisia silently gazed at Gasper’s bowed head.

"...Laggy was knighted by Commander Ilias and serves as my knight. If you wish to overturn that decision, you should petition Commander Ilias, not me."

She stated the facts in a calm tone. Gasper’s mouth twisted slightly into a frown as he listened.

"I understand that Princess Artemisia is no longer a member of the Black Rose Knights, but a princess of Gattoland. Since we are in the Gato Kingdom, it is only proper to seek the approval of His Majesty King Dada for the appointment and dismissal of a knight. His Majesty has always said that status is to be seized by force, so it would not be so strange here for the winner of a duel to serve as Your Highness’s exclusive knight…"

After spinning his specious argument, he didn’t give Artemisia a chance to object, instead raising his gaze to Laggy’s massive frame.

"Do you hear me, beast? Do you truly have the skill to protect the princess? From what I can see, you’re all brawn and no brains, not even as much as a dog."

He threw a blatant insult at him, but Laggy just turned his disinterested gaze to the empty sky. He didn’t even glance at Gasper.

Gasper smiled.

"Don’t even have the brains to understand an insult? It may be different in the Black Rose Knights, but here in the Gato Kingdom, a princess’s knight is required to have both swordsmanship and intelligence and grace. For an ugly beast like you to guard the princess is nothing but a laughingstock. I, Gasper Natale, will teach you what it means to be a knight. Accept my challenge."

He challenged Laggy to a duel in a grand tone.

The drunken onlookers grinned and applauded, their eyes on Laggy.

"What’s wrong, dog-face, accept the challenge!" "Scared? So you’re all talk after all!" "If you’re a knight, don’t run away, fight with honor!"

It was a familiar scene at a Gato Kingdom banquet. A knight of the kingdom would never refuse a duel after such an insult. To refuse would be to be branded a "coward," and his family name would be tarnished. To repair a tarnished family name, one would have to risk one’s life for the king on the battlefield.

But.

"........."

Laggy, as always, looked at the empty sky with a disinterested expression. Gasper’s words were like the wind, passing through him without effect.

Gasper turned his gaze to Artemisia and made his plea.

"I beg of you, Your Highness. When I have defeated that monster, please promise to appoint me as your exclusive knight. In the name of Gasper Natale, the new sword saint of the Gato Kingdom, I will protect you for the rest of my life."

At his offer, the onlookers cheered and whistled, egging them on. They praised Gasper’s manliness for seeking a fight, and jeered at Laggy, who stood there like a block of wood.

Artemisia turned a troubled expression to Toto. Toto leaned close to Artemisia’s ear.

(You should refuse.)

He whispered. No matter who won, there was no benefit for Artemisia. It was best not to roll dice with no chance of winning.

Artemisia nodded at Toto’s words, then lifted her head resolutely to face Gasper and the onlookers and opened her mouth.

"Sounds interesting. Go ahead, I allow it."

"I refuse."

King Dada’s words cut in before Artemisia’s.

King Dada, who had somehow slipped into the crowd, his sculpted upper body flushed red, a leather wineskin in one hand, said, "Gasper recently inherited the Holy Orb of Loyalty. He’s a skilled swordsman, sharp-witted, ambitious as hell, and has a terrible weakness for women. Just like me. I have high hopes for you, Gasper, more than any of my other bastards. I’m expecting you to lead the kingdom’s army in the future. Don’t betray your father’s expectations, you hear?"

He asked in a drunken slur.

Gasper gave one of his theatrical bows.

"To hear such words directly from Your Majesty is the highest honor. As the Successor of the Orb of Loyalty, I will be sure to show you that dog-man turning tail and running."

King Dada roared with laughter at his words and turned his drunken gaze to Artemisia.

"You heard him, my daughter. The winner becomes your exclusive knight. No objections, right?"

Artemisia received King Dada’s words with a frozen expression, then drew her left foot back and bowed her head.

"...As you wish."

She could not defy King Dada’s words. Behind her, Laggy still stared at the darkness of the night, as if he were above it all.

Artemisia turned to Laggy.

"...Prepare yourself, and fight him."

Only when his master spoke did Laggy reply.

"As you command."

His tone was flat, with no excitement or anger.

Ooooh, the crowd let out an excited roar. They had no idea how this werewolf would fight against a Holy Orb Successor.

"Bring me my weapon," Gasper ordered a squire who was standing by, telling him to fetch the weapon he had left in the outer bailey.

Laggy’s halberd was also with a squire in the outer bailey, but.

"This will be enough for me."

Laggy held up a hand in front of his chest, showing his dully gleaming claws. Gasper looked displeased.

"You don’t need that halberd?"

"I’ve eaten hundreds of thugs like you with these claws."

A stir went through the crowd at Laggy’s reply. He was going to face Gasper, one of the kingdom’s foremost swordsmen, without a weapon? More than that, this werewolf ate people?

Gasper, undaunted, gave Laggy a look of utter contempt.

"The colosseum is nothing more than amateurs killing each other. Killing a hundred slaves who don’t know how to handle a sword is nothing to brag about. I will teach you what a true knight is. Choose now: honor or mercy."

Gasper took a rapier from his squire and said this.

"You called me ugly earlier. I will show you true ugliness."

From the fingertips of his fur-covered hands, Laggy extended three claws, each about fifteen centimeters long. He arched his back like a cat and leaned forward.

Ooooh, the crowd cheered, and a circle of people quickly formed around the two of them.

The wind blew through the inner bailey, and sparks from the bonfire danced between the two combatants.

The cheers of the onlookers grew even louder.

"Alright, go!"

At King Dada’s signal, Gasper thrust his first blow at Laggy’s face.

Laggy didn’t even try to dodge. He knew it was just a feint to gauge his distance. The tip of the sword, which had come within a hair’s breadth of his brow, was withdrawn, and Laggy stepped forward in time with the retreating blade, swinging down his right claws.

Gasper dodged with a slight tilt of his head. A lock of his golden hair was cut, dancing in the twilight. With a smirk, he stepped to the outside of Laggy’s dominant arm and, moving inside the distance he had measured with his first feint, launched a second and third attack.

Laggy parried the sword tip, dodged, and, whenever there was an opening, stepped in and swung his left and right claws. Every time claw and sword crossed, a flash of light erupted, and sparks flew.

The crowd cheered. The trajectories of both sword and claw changed vertically and horizontally, and silver afterimages flashed in the space between them, the weight of their clashing blows shaking the very air. Both were unleashing strikes that were both fast and heavy, the kind that would end the match with a single hit.

Toto silently observed the swordplay before him.

After six exchanges, the situation became clear.

The rapier has the advantage.

Laggy was large, but the reach of his claws was shorter than Gasper’s rapier. Gradually, the tip of the rapier was grazing and cutting Laggy’s body. Their speed and power were equal, but there was a subtle difference in their effective range.

But.

He wouldn’t have been able to survive the colosseum with just this level of skill.

This werewolf is luring Gasper in…!

"Stay focused, Gasper," Toto couldn’t help but call out. He had a feeling Laggy was aiming for something. Weren’t the alternating claw strikes a setup for a final move? Otherwise, they were far too monotonous.

He had trained with Gasper in the castle’s training grounds since they were children. He was an excellent swordsman, ambitious and fearless, who had inherited a great deal of King Dada’s blood. He didn’t want to see a man who would likely lead a unit of several hundred in the future be killed or injured here.

"Sir Laggy is planning something. Don’t rush, see what he does."

Without realizing it, Toto was advising Gasper. Whether his voice reached him or not, Gasper, with a fearless smile still on his face, put more and more of his strength into his strikes, making them deeper and more powerful…

*

This one is cunning.

With a silent click of his tongue behind his fearless smile, Gasper readied his rapier again.

Before him, Laggy stood like a wall of rock. His already large body seemed to be expanding even more as they fought.

And he’s hiding a trump card…

The advice from the second prince, Toto, had reached Gasper’s ears. He wished he would shut up; if he said it out loud, the werewolf would become wary. He had already figured that much out on his own.

Insolent Toto. The only thing you have over me is your birthright.

I don’t need you to tell me how to fight…

The werewolf was likely aiming for an attack with his fangs after drawing him in close.

It wasn’t just his claws. The many fangs protruding from his upper and lower jaws were also deadly weapons. This monotonous claw attack was, without a doubt, a setup to lure Gasper in close.

I won’t fall for it, you dog-man.

Gasper increased the speed of his rapier. He wasn’t aiming for a killing blow, but to pierce Laggy’s flesh. He didn’t need to run him through; just scraping the surface, piercing the flesh ever so slightly, was enough.

Your failure to wear armor is your undoing.

The more they exchanged blows, the more his opponent’s body would be cut, and his stamina would be drained. In a long fight, a larger body was at a disadvantage in terms of stamina, and the poison he had applied to the tip of his sword would gradually invade Laggy’s nerves.

Savor this. It’s a neurotoxin extracted from sharkworms.

Gasper regularly collected "sharkworms" from the depths of the mine tunnels under the "Demon Lord’s Tower," crushed their heads in a stone mortar, and applied the paste to the blade of his rapier along with oil. Sharkworm venom was fast-acting, but its effect was only a slight delay in reaction time, making it difficult to detect its use. The victim wouldn’t even realize they had been poisoned, mistaking the delayed reaction for physical fatigue.

What’s wrong, monster? Your movements are getting sluggish.

As time passed, the poison would spread through Laggy’s limbs, gradually robbing him of his reaction speed. He had cursed his fate when he was appointed guard knight of the mining site, but the silver lining was that these worms were abundant in the tunnels.

The poison of the sharkworm and the power of the Holy Orb. With both combined, I cannot lose a duel.

Gasper had won a duel against the previous Successor of the Orb of Loyalty with this very poison. He was confident that he was now the strongest in dueling, not just in the kingdom, but in the entire Grapeland Sea, no, in all of the Northdia Continent.

I will defeat this thing, become Artemisia’s exclusive knight, and rise even higher.

At the edge of his vision, as he stared at Laggy, King Dada came into view. The king was chugging wine from a leather skin, laughing and joking with his aides. He was probably making a bet. He had to be betting on him, of course.

Keep laughing. Your successor will be me.

The opportunity to stand out from the more than two hundred "Natale bastards" and join the ranks of Gaga and Toto as a "Gattoland with the right of succession" was within his grasp.

He could not lose. He would use any means necessary to seize victory. His life of inhaling toxic fumes in a dark mine tunnel while fearing the Polka Dot Disease was over.

Since he was a child, whenever he had free time, he would go to the inner bailey’s training grounds and watch Gaga and Toto learn to sword fight. Though they shared the same blood of King Dada, he had been envious and at the same time resentful that Gaga and Toto were in a privileged position to learn the sword just because of who their mothers were. He had channeled that resentment into a stick and fought with the other children of the same status who lived in the castle. Eventually, he was noticed by the castle’s master instructor and given permission to be Gaga and Toto’s training partner. With only his swordsmanship to rely on, he had become a knight and had survived to this day as a guard knight, fearing the Polka Dot Disease.

This stage was the culmination of all the training he had accumulated.

If he lost here, everything he had built would be meaningless. No, not just meaningless, he would lose his life.

I will win and survive, no matter what it takes.

With this sword, I will obtain land, a castle, status…!

Laggy’s movements were slowing. He saw a hint of panic in the werewolf’s eyes.

The end was near.

Gasper took a large step forward and entered deep into Laggy’s guard.

Because of the poison, Laggy’s right hand was slow to react.

Right before him was an unguarded lower abdomen.

My castle. My land. Countless servants and beautiful women.

He drew back his rapier, the tip aimed at the enemy’s lower abdomen.

As predicted, Laggy’s jaws opened wide.

I will seize my life.

He shifted the aim of his sword tip from the enemy’s lower abdomen to his lower jaw.

With his eyes blazing, Gasper’s life-or-death strike shot upward, aimed at Laggy’s lower jaw.

*

He had smelled the sharkworm venom on Gasper’s blade from the very beginning.

A human wouldn’t have been able to detect it, but a werewolf’s sense of smell could pick up even a single grain of poison and even estimate its effect on the body.

So, all he had to do was pretend the poison was working. This human would surely let his guard down and come in close when he thought the poison had spread throughout his body.

The moment he does, this man named Gasper’s life will be over.

As he launched his monotonous claw attacks over and over, Laggy was constructing the flow of this duel toward its conclusion in his mind.

To make Gasper let his guard down, he slowed the swing of his arm. To convince this cowardly knight that the sharkworm poison was working.

In reality.

An insect cannot defeat a wolf.

One could not survive in the wild without a resistance to insect venom. Wild animals already had a resistance to most of the insect venoms that existed in the Grapeland Sea area. Gasper, while calling Laggy a "beast," had underestimated a wild animal’s resistance to poison.

That is your undoing.

As he whispered this in his mind, Gasper, as predicted, took a large step forward and entered deep into his guard.

The tip of his sword was aimed at Laggy’s lower abdomen… but.

He’s aware of my fangs.

After six exchanges, he had sensed that Gasper was wary of his fangs. He already knew that there would be an attack with his fangs if he entered his range.

In that case, he would use his fangs as a feint as well.

Laggy deliberately opened his jaws wide. If he were serious about biting, he wouldn’t need to open his mouth this wide, but as a feint, this was fine.

As expected, Gasper’s sword tip smoothly shifted its aim from Laggy’s lower abdomen to his lower jaw.

He intended to pierce Laggy’s lower jaw, tongue, and upper jaw all at once.

But.

Do you know this trick?

Laggy’s right knee slammed into Gasper’s unguarded side.

"...!?"

Gasper’s body folded in a V-shape.

His eyes widened as if they were about to fall out.

The sensation of bones shattering traveled up from his knee.

Three ribs.

Blood spat from his mouth, wetting Laggy’s thigh.

Time for the finishing blow.

Laggy sank his fangs into Gasper’s left shoulder.

The elasticity of the muscle, the tearing of sinews, and the warmth of blood filled his mouth.

He had aimed for the neck, but Gasper had twisted, and he was slightly off. But it didn’t matter. If he tore through the trapezius muscle, he wouldn’t be able to swing a sword properly anymore.

Screams and roars from the crowd.

He clenched his jaws, about to tear through the muscle fibers, when.

"...You… lose…!!" Gasper said, even as he was being bitten.

In that instant, green flames erupted from Gasper’s back.

Like the halo of a divine statue, a geometric pattern of green light appeared in the air.

‘Loyalty’

The Oyashima character was projected onto Laggy’s retina.

A curtain of aurora-like green light covered Gasper’s back.

"...!?"

This time, it was Laggy’s eyes that widened.

The jaws that had been clamped onto Gasper’s shoulder were released against his will.

His jaw, opened.

The fangs that should have been sunk into flesh were withdrawn, contrary to Laggy’s will.

What is this?

His body wouldn’t move as he wished. His will wasn’t reaching his limbs, and they were taking actions he didn’t intend.

It wasn’t poison. There was no poison like this. It was as if his body was being controlled by Gasper.

A phenomenon Laggy had never experienced before, despite having fought in hundreds of duels…

The power of a Holy Orb.

The eight Holy Orbs—Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, Loyalty, Trust, Filial Piety, and Brotherhood—were said to grant their hosts power that transcended the laws of the world.

One of them, the power of "Loyalty," was now invading and controlling Laggy’s entire body…!

Now, Laggy, who should have been biting down, had withdrawn his fangs and was just staring at Gasper’s face from close range, standing stock-still.

Before him, the blood-soaked Gasper smirked, raised his rapier again.

Blood was streaming from his shoulder, dyeing his white uniform crimson. He leaned slightly to protect his broken ribs, but he mustered his remaining strength and pointed the tip of his sword at Laggy’s heart.

Once again, the crest of "Loyalty" glowed with a faint green light.

Am I going to lose…?

Laggy tried to send strength to his unmoving right hand. But his body seemed to be under the control of another will; he couldn’t even move a finger.

The tip of the rapier Gasper held aloft crept closer.

If he took one more step, that sword tip would pierce his heart.

To this smirking man, I, of all people…

Something hot welled up from the pit of his stomach.

He had no attachment to life. But he was furious at the thought of losing.

To a guy like this…!

Laggy sent all his strength to his fingertips, whipping his unmoving body into action…

*

The werewolf was confused.

He still couldn’t figure out what was happening to him.

Stay right there.

Gasper did his best to keep the pain from his face and poured his remaining strength into his right arm.

A broken rib was piercing an organ. Blood was welling up in his throat. Blood was streaming from the shoulder where his flesh had been torn. The trapezius muscle in his left shoulder had been torn through, and dark blood was flowing from the wound, but his artery was intact.

Holy Orb, hold his movements for just three more heartbeats.

Gasper called out to the Holy Orb that had merged with his heart.

Just then.



The Orb of "Loyalty" asked from his heart.

He had learned upon inheriting it that, surprisingly, the Holy Orb was alive and could speak.

The King’s words…

The words the King had said to him two weeks ago flashed through Gasper’s mind.

‘Whether or not you can master this Holy Orb depends on the single character you have inherited: Loyalty.’

‘Think carefully about the meaning of Loyalty. If you don’t understand, you will lose and die, just like this one.’

The King had said this to Gasper, who had just inherited the Orb of "Loyalty," in front of the corpse of the previous Successor, as if it were a riddle.

He didn’t understand why the orb was reminding him of this now.

So what?

He asked the orb, catching Laggy in his killing range.

The enemy still couldn’t move. Just stay still for one more heartbeat.



The orb asked another question that was out of place in this situation.

I’m fighting for…

Land. A castle. Status. To get the life I deserve…

The unmoving Laggy opened his jaws as if to threaten him.

His blood-soaked fangs gleamed dully.

Laggy was trying to repel the orb’s power.

For some reason, the power of "Loyalty" was weakening…!

Hold him down…!

Ordering the Orb of "Loyalty" to do so, Gasper put all his strength into thrusting his rapier at Laggy’s heart.



The words of the Orb of "Loyalty" reached him.



Gasper’s sword tip slid past Laggy’s side.

Laggy’s fangs sank into Gasper’s neck.

Hey.

He felt Laggy’s fur covering his face, and his vision was filled with a grainy sandstorm.

Without a moment’s delay, two thick arms wrapped around Gasper’s back, and the claws of both hands dug into his spine.

Why is he moving?

He felt fangs sink into his carotid artery. A current of electricity shot through his back for a moment, and then the pain vanished, and the scenery vanished with it.

Is this the end?

No, it can’t be. My life is just beginning. I’m going to defeat this ugly werewolf, become Artemisia’s knight, a general leading ten thousand men, and then marry Artemisia and become a member of the Gato royal family…

Wasn’t that the future that was supposed to start from here?

He couldn’t see anything. He couldn’t smell anything. His thoughts were fading.

Reality. The future he had dreamed of. Everything. …Into darkness.

*

Gasper’s spine shattered, and his upper body crumpled like a slug.

With a sharp bakii, his cervical vertebrae broke, and his neck was half-severed.

The crowd screamed.

With a low growl—gururuuu—Laggy bit off Gasper’s neck and spat it out.

The head bounced twice on the stone pavement and rolled.

Blood gushed from the fallen torso like wine from a toppled barrel.

The ladies averted their eyes, screamed, and some fainted.

The spectating knights were also speechless, staring at Gasper’s head on the ground and his prone torso.

As the blood soaked into the stone pavement—.

"That is what you call ugly."

Looking down at Gasper’s death mask—eyes wide, mouth agape in a final scream, face swollen and purplish-red—Laggy spoke.

A moment of silence was shattered—.

A roar that was part scream, part cheer, and part angry shout went up.

"W-w-what kind of victory was that!?" "Think of a knight’s honor!!" "There was no need to kill him so suddenly, and to bite his head off at that!!"

Voices of condemnation were already beginning to be heard in response to the overly brutal conclusion.

Duels were to be conducted according to the code of chivalry, and their conclusion should also be beautiful. The custom of a Gattoland knight was for the victor to allow the loser to choose between life and death before delivering the final blow. But Laggy had suddenly, without a word, bitten his neck off with his fangs, not his sword.

But Laggy paid them no mind, glancing at King Dada in the crowd.

"Are you satisfied?" he asked.

King Dada, still smiling, said, "Impressive. To defeat a Holy Orb Successor. Here is your reward, take it."

King Dada removed the bracelet from his right wrist and tossed it to Laggy.

Laggy caught the bracelet in one blood-soaked hand, noted its weight and intricate craftsmanship, and confirmed that it was valuable enough to live on for several years without worry. He bowed his head to the king and tried to leave the circle of people.

There was no praise or applause; the eyes of the onlookers on the blood-soaked Laggy were cold.

"It was a sloppy victory, but he’s the winner. Treat his wounds and let him bathe," King Dada ordered, and an old man in a robe with a white beard stepped forward from the crowd to examine Laggy’s injuries, but.

"It’s just a scratch. Human medicine won’t work on me anyway. Leave it."

With that, Laggy, still covered in blood, returned to Artemisia’s side.

Artemisia, in a fluster, said, "I no longer require an escort tonight. Go and get treated."

"But—"

"There are plenty of guards here. Prince Toto is also with me. And I am not comfortable with you being so covered in blood. At least wash off the blood and rest for the night."

At his master’s firm command, Laggy hesitated for a moment, but in the end, he said, "...If Your Highness says so."

He bowed and turned, his large mantle embroidered with a rose and sword fluttering.

He could hear the hostile gazes and malicious whispers of the surrounding knights.

"Does he have to kill him so suddenly? He could have stopped once the match was decided." "He’s a werewolf. He has no regard for a knight’s honor." "He’s just a beast; he can’t understand the etiquette of a knight."

The onlookers who were openly complaining were all from the kingdom. The representatives from the surrounding cities of the Grapeland Sea were expressionless, but a faint smirk could be seen on their faces. Gasper’s valor had been known for some time, and they seemed pleased that a troublesome opponent had died so easily.

The path before the departing Laggy cleared. The white-bearded master scholar hurried after him, but Laggy quickened his pace as if to shake him off and disappeared into the darkness of the night.

*

"........."

Toto silently walked over to Gasper’s corpse, turned the torso onto its back, placed the head he had picked up where it belonged, and covered the body with his own mantle.

He knelt on one knee, paid his respects to Gasper’s remains, and picked up the fallen rapier, examining the blade.

"........."

Blood and oil, and, as he had suspected, the faint scent of sharkworm venom…

There’s no point in pursuing this now.

Forgetting what he had seen, Toto closed his eyes and prayed for the peaceful repose of the dead.

Just then—.

"...?"

A green ball of fire materialized over the mantle-covered corpse.

It was something Toto had never seen before. The heatless flame was the same green as the one that had hovered behind Gasper’s back. And in the middle of the flickering ball of fire was the Oyashima character for "Loyalty."

"This is… the Holy Orb of Loyalty…"

A fragment of the Messiah Yamata, which Gasper had inherited.

Some of the onlookers noticed the Holy Orb. A murmur spread, and several knights with gleaming eyes started to walk toward them, when—.

"Excuse me."

Beside the Orb of "Loyalty," the Chancellor of the Gato Kingdom, Nanahara Yoshiharu, had somehow knelt and opened a small iron cage.

With a careful hand, Yoshiharu brought the birdcage-like cage to the orb, enclosed it, and closed the lid. The orb, like a dove, floated in the middle of the cage, the character for "Loyalty" glowing.

"...Is that the Holy Orb?" Toto asked Yoshiharu from close by.

Yoshiharu, who managed the internal affairs of the Gato Kingdom, lowered his sharp eyes slightly.

"Indeed. Is this the first time you have seen one?" he said in a smooth tone, as if telling a story to a sleeping child.

"...Yes. I’ve heard stories from His Majesty, but…"

At his answer, Yoshiharu gave his usual gentle smile.

His white bodice with gold trim was spotless, with the chancellor’s crest of a white cat and vines on his right breast, and white slacks. His powdered hair was slicked back, accentuating his forehead, his eyes were set slightly apart, his nose had a low bridge, and his lips were thin. He had a polite and calm demeanor, but his eyes were sharp, and he exuded an air of reason and intelligence. The "Alchemist of Gato," who had become chancellor at forty and increased the kingdom’s revenue tenfold in just eight years, glanced around.

The knights from other countries who had noticed Yoshiharu stopped and watched from a distance. Though he had a gentle smile, Yoshiharu’s presence naturally repelled others with its sharp intelligence.

The Gato Kingdom had grown in power in recent years by having King Dada focus on war while Yoshiharu handled internal affairs, especially finance. Without Yoshiharu, the war-torn Gato Kingdom would have long since gone bankrupt.

Since becoming chancellor eight years ago, Yoshiharu had issued "government bonds" to borrow large sums of money from great merchants, used that money to expand the shipyards and build a large number of merchant and warships, and organized large-scale regular convoys to ensure the safety of the sea routes. At the same time, he issued letters of marque to pirates to attack the ships of other countries, collecting thirty percent of the profits, and further promoted the banking industry in partnership with great merchants, lending large sums of money to other countries and seizing their land with naval force when they couldn’t repay. The treasury, customs, accounting office, and mint were staffed with Yoshiharu’s own hand-picked, excellent bureaucrats, who eradicated bribery and corruption. Gato Island quickly became the number one commercial city in the Grapeland Sea, with trade surplus increasing more than tenfold and market and customs taxes increasing more than fifteenfold. Some gossips said that "the current prosperity of the Gato Kingdom is due to Yoshiharu’s skill, and King Dada’s only achievement is that he did not discriminate against Yoshiharu, who is of the Oyashima Tribe, and appointed him chancellor of the country."

Now, the Chancellor Nanahara Yoshiharu, who effectively controlled the economy of the Grapeland Sea, covered the cage beside Toto, hiding the character for "Loyalty." Toto asked, "...Who will inherit that?"

"One who is worthy of inheriting it."

Yoshiharu said this in a tone as if telling a bedtime story, and rose to his feet.

Stewards placed Gasper’s corpse on a wooden stretcher and carried it away to the morgue in the outer bailey. Servant women wiped the blood from the stone pavement and scattered rushes to dispel the smell of death. Under the colors of the hundreds of colored lanterns, the onlookers also dispersed, and the lively banquet began again, as if they had forgotten all about the dead man.

Toto was curious.

Gasper lost, even though he had inherited a Holy Orb…

In fairy tales and legends, it was said that those who inherited one of the eight Holy Orbs, the incarnations of the Messiah Yamata, would gain the ability to turn the tide of battle single-handedly. But the power he had just witnessed had only stopped Laggy’s movements for a short time and had not led the Successor to victory. It was said that one who inherited all eight Holy Orbs scattered throughout the world would become a "Messiah" comparable to the Holy Archangel Juno, but it did not seem to possess such immense power. The power of Juno was, in other words, the power to reshape the world itself.

Is it not as strong as the stories say, or was there a problem with Gasper…?

As he was lost in thought.

"Prince Toto…? Are you not feeling well?"

Artemisia, at his side, asked with a worried expression. His own expression must have become sterner than usual. Toto came back to his senses and gave her a reassuring smile.

"...No, I was just thinking. …Your guard is very strong. To defeat a Holy Orb Successor."

"Um… It was the first time I had seen Laggy fight, myself. …I didn’t know he was so brutal…"

"A win is a win. We knew from the beginning that Laggy’s weapons were his fangs and claws. I don’t think that was cowardly. In fact…"

He stopped himself from finishing. Gasper was already dead, and it would be pointless to point out the sharkworm venom that had been on his blade now.

"Shall we walk? There are a lot of different stalls, and a lot of interesting people."

"...Yes. ...I’d be delighted."

Artemisia lowered her face slightly and answered awkwardly. Laggy’s victory in the duel may have made her feel even more out of place. As the two of them walked around looking at the stalls, Toto prayed that this lovely new sister would soon get used to this country…

*

†††

*

He had refused medical treatment, but the opportunity to soak in a bath was rare, so he decided to accept the offer of a bath.

The Gato Kingdom Castle was built along the slope of a hill, with the main keep at the top surrounded by watchtowers, spires, a round tower, an armory tower, and a cathedral, all enclosed by a wall. Laggy was guided to the guest bath in the round tower next to the main keep. The wide, shallow bathtub, carved from a single piece of marble, was large enough for the massive Laggy to stretch out his limbs.

The water was lukewarm and pleasant. The blood and mud washed off his black fur, and his characteristic silver stripes reappeared in the gaps between the black.

"........."

His wounds had already closed, and the water didn’t sting. The sharkworm poison was also gone, and he could feel his muscles relaxing.

Laggy closed his eyes.

It had been years since he had fought a battle where he had prepared for death. In fact, if the mysterious power that had bound his body at that moment hadn’t suddenly vanished, he would have been pierced through the heart and died.

That would have been fine, too.

Laggy thought this as if it had happened to someone else.

He had no will to do anything, no family to make happy. His days were spent killing those he was told to kill until someone stronger than him killed him. He had nothing to cling to in this life that was less than garbage. If he died, he wouldn’t have to be called an ugly monster and have stones thrown at him. He had taken that smirking man’s life simply because he didn’t like him. For a moment, when he had bitten his neck off, it had been exhilarating.

But the afterglow of victory quickly faded. All that was left was the usual emptiness.

Even if he won and survived, it wasn’t as if he could do anything meaningful with his life. So wouldn’t it have been better to die?

"........."

Laggy became aware of his own twisted thoughts and, disgusted with himself, banished the unnecessary thoughts from his mind. He was Artemisia’s dog; there was no point in thinking. He was a tool that would fight as Artemisia commanded and die somewhere someday. He wanted to die somewhere quickly and be rid of this goddamn world.

In the end, I survived again.

With self-mockery, Laggy got out of the bath. He shook himself twice and dried his body with a towel, and the luster returned to his fur.

He fastened his sword belt and loincloth, put on his mantle, and left the bath. His assigned room was in a different tower, opposite Artemisia’s private room, but if he went back there, his master would be absent. As he was feeling at a loss, both his ears perked up.

A faint melody was drifting down from above the spiral staircase.

It was the sound of a stringed instrument, different from the orchestra playing in the square.

"........."

Someone was playing an instrument on the roof of the round tower. With nowhere else to go, Laggy somehow found himself climbing the spiral staircase.

He was not wearing his halberd, armor, or boots. The soles of his feet were thick pads, so he made no sound as he climbed the stairs. He emerged onto the roof without the player noticing and exposed his oversized body to the starlight.

A lone woman was silhouetted against the blue moonlight.

She was sitting on a granite chair, a lute on her lap, wearing a pale pink chemise dress, the moonlight sliding over the surface of her golden hair, which reached her waist.

She wore a black silk blindfold over her eyes. With her eyes hidden, the woman, who appeared to be in her early twenties, placed her slender fingers on the strings and wove a tapestry of sound as if weaving silk.

Is she blind?

Laggy, standing in the doorway to the roof, should have been in her peripheral vision, but she didn’t react. A normal woman would have screamed and run away at the sudden appearance of a giant werewolf, but this woman was oblivious to the intruder, completely focused on her music.

Laggy held his breath and listened to the melody she wove.

Then, as if in a trance, he moved downwind of her on silent feet and leaned against the breastwork.

The werewolf and the woman were alone on the roof of the round tower.

Laggy knew who this woman was.

The blind first princess, Chouchou Gattoland…

Was this first princess, who had not been invited to the banquet to preserve the Gato royal family’s dignity, spinning her music alone on the roof of this lonely round tower?

Since he had moved downwind, she wouldn’t be able to smell him. As long as he didn’t make a sound, Princess Chouchou would never notice him. Mindful of the sound of his breathing, Laggy listened to the princess’s melody as her only audience.

*




And then—.

Chouchou’s lips parted.

A whispering song mingled with the night wind and reached Laggy’s ears downwind.

The melody of the lute intertwined with her clear voice.





She didn’t raise her voice, nor did she put any particular emotion into it.

It was a simple, whispering song, yet it somehow seeped into the core of his heart.



Her voice modulated, and as if it had grown wings, it suddenly soared into the night sky. It was a strange sensation of flight, as if Laggy himself were soaring through the sky with her.



Laggy noticed something was wrong.

The world he saw was different from usual.



The world, which had always been sooty and dull, was now clear and distinct, as if it had been wiped with a magic cloth.

He could see the stars that had been hidden in the darkness of the night. The outline of the blue full moon, the craters on its surface, the way the sparks from the bonfire danced in a vortex on the wind.



The details of the world he had never seen before were now vividly colored on Laggy’s retina, as if they were smiling at him.

What is this?

He had never known the starry sky was so full of such subtle colors.

He now understood the concept of beauty.

Just a song…

Chouchou’s song seeped into Laggy’s parched soul, and something vibrant sprouted.

His core was being moistened.

Into a world that had only ever contained suffering, sadness, and pain since he was born, its opposite was seeping in.

From the depths of his chest, something he had never known before welled up. Something pleasant, pure, and clear. The moment that unidentifiable something touched the deep part of his consciousness.

"...Puppy?"

The music stopped abruptly, and that question came down to him.

Princess Chouchou had stopped playing and, with her face still blindfolded, had turned toward Laggy, tilting her head in confusion.

He must have been discovered by his breathing. The wind had also died down at some point.

"...You’re not from the castle, are you? Are you lost?"

The princess’s cat ears, protruding from her golden hair, twitched back and forth. With a sniff, the princess stood up from her granite chair and placed her lute to the side.

"...Come here, puppy."

Saying this, the princess bent down slightly and, in a calm voice as if to reassure him, walked toward him with a tentative gait, tapping a cane with her right hand.

She seemed to have mistaken Laggy for a lost stray dog. She must have judged by his smell. The princess smiled.

"I’m not scary."

She took another step forward, leaning down and holding out her left hand.

Laggy was at a loss and couldn’t move. He should have revealed his identity and left, but he was too ashamed of having listened in secret, taking advantage of Chouchou’s blindness, to do so.

"Are you hungry? Do you want some food?"

Princess Chouchou approached, her cane tapping in front of her, her voice gentle. If she touched him now, she would realize his oversized body and know that he was not a stray dog but a werewolf. Then, she would surely scream and run away.

Laggy, taking the utmost care not to make a sound, moved to the doorway on silent feet. He wanted to avoid scaring Chouchou at all costs. To preserve the memory of the beautiful music he had heard today, he wanted to leave without her ever knowing.

But the princess, as if sensing he was trying to flee, called out in a pleading voice, "Don’t be scared."

Laggy’s feet stopped in their tracks.

"...Do you not like being petted?"

"........."

"...I’m sorry, I won’t pet you. Please stay here."

The princess said this, and with a faint smile as if to reassure him, she sat down again on the granite chair and placed the lute on her lap.

Laggy let out a sigh of relief in his heart and turned his head to face the princess.

"...Were you listening the whole time?"

Yes, I was listening. …He couldn’t say that, so he stood there with his back to the princess, his head bowed.

He should have left, but for some reason, Laggy’s feet wouldn’t move.

"Are you alone? Just like me."

A normal woman would have been terrified of his ugly appearance and run away, but Princess Chouchou stopped him and spoke to him. That was what kept Laggy’s feet rooted to the spot. Though he knew it was a lingering attachment, he couldn’t bring himself to leave…

Chouchou, still smiling, asked, "Did you like my song?"

Like it? I want to listen to you sing for the rest of my life. …He couldn’t say that, either, so Laggy, as if in resignation, leaned against the breastwork again. It was called a "breastwork" because it was only as high as a man’s chest, but for Laggy, it was a comfortable height to lean against.

If the princess thought he was a stray dog, that was fine. He wanted to stay here as a stray dog and listen to her sing.

"They’re having a festival outside, so let’s do a cheerful one."

Chouchou said this, and her fingertips ran over the lute, and a dancing melody began to play. A cheerful song like a spring flower flowed from Chouchou’s cherry-pink lips.

Suddenly, the night brightened.

It was so warm, gentle, and pleasant.

Chouchou sang with a faint smile, and her figure, silhouetted against the blue moonlight, was like a fairy.

Laggy’s ears twitched back and forth on their own. His tail stood up straight, and if he wasn’t careful, it would move back and forth with his ears. Without raising her voice, in a whispering tone, Chouchou’s song lit up the night sky brighter than a lantern.

It was a song about a town girl in love with a knight, dreaming of the day they would dance together at the town festival. Chouchou sang of the girl’s lively, bursting emotions with vivacity.

As if Chouchou’s emotions had been transferred directly to him, a cool, refreshing feeling spread through Laggy’s body. Laggy, who was always scowling, now had a slightly relaxed expression. Chouchou’s smile and cheerful song cast a new light on a world filled with sadness and suffering.

The concert for two continued.

Chouchou’s songs became seeds, and various emotions that Laggy had never known before sprouted in him.

Some were expansive and cheerful, making him feel relaxed without realizing it. Some were like the air after a spring rain, a little damp but with a pleasant scent. Some were sad and wistful, longing for days gone by and one’s hometown.

The clear sound particles seeped into Laggy’s body and mind, which were covered in layers of visible and invisible wounds, washing away the pain and suffering. Chouchou’s song washed both the listener and the world clean.

Suddenly—

A single tear rolled down from the corner of Laggy’s eye.

Laggy himself was surprised and hastily wiped it away.

But another teardrop flowed from the corner of his other eye.

Impossible.

He was stunned by his own reaction.

He had never cried before. Not even when he was a child in a freak show and had stones thrown at him. He had hated them, but he had never once cried.

Why, these tears…?

He managed to take a deep breath and try to control the strange change in his body and mind, but.

They won’t stop…

Laggy’s tears were endless. Without understanding why, his heart was tightened by that pure voice, and no matter how he tried to endure it, tears overflowed from the corners of his eyes.

What is this?

He couldn’t grasp his own state at all. He had never been this confused, not even in the hundreds of duels he had fought. Princess Chouchou, without using a sword or spear, had conquered Laggy’s inner self with just her lute and voice.

What is this person?

He wasn’t crying because he was sad or in pain. It was as if the ripples stirred up by Chouchou’s song were washing his inner self clean, and the accumulated filth was overflowing as tears. He didn't know why, but for some reason he couldn't understand, the tears kept flowing.

The world he saw was shining even more brightly. The moon, the stars, the round tower—everything seemed to be emitting light from within, and it all looked pure white.

Chouchou and Laggy were enclosed in a world of white, with only a happy song.

Stop, just like this.

World. Stand still here.

Without thinking, Laggy’s heart whispered such things.

If the world outside of them would stand still, and he could listen to Chouchou’s song forever.

He wanted nothing else.

"Princess—"

Suddenly, Laggy’s thoughts were cut off by a call from below.

"!?"

Laggy’s eyes widened, and he looked at the doorway. Someone was coming up the spiral staircase inside the round tower. It was probably Chouchou’s handmaiden.

"His Majesty is calling for you, Princess—"

Chouchou continued to sing and play her lute, unfazed. But if this went on, he would be discovered by the handmaiden, and she would scream. If she knew that it was not a stray dog but a werewolf listening…

The princess will be scared…

Laggy leaned over the breastwork and looked down.

About three meters below was a wall walk connecting to the round tower. Under a bonfire, two guards stood at attention with spears. The enclosing wall that protected the inner bailey of the castle followed the slope of the hill in a complex series of bends, and the round tower where Laggy was was located at one of these bends, a structure that connected the walls.

It would be complicated, but it was better than staying here.

Taking care not to make a sound, Laggy clutched the front of his mantle and leaped from the breastwork, jumping down to the wall walk three meters below.

His mantle fluttered in the wind. Even for a werewolf, it was a dangerous height to jump from. He looked at the approaching stone pavement of the wall walk, and at the moment of landing, he put both hands and feet on the pavement at the same time like a beast, using the cushions of his elbows and knees to their fullest, and muffled the sound with his pads.

His mantle billowed out—fuwari.

"!?"

The guards turned their startled faces toward him.

Laggy, with a fierce expression, put a forefinger to his lips.

(Don’t scream. I’m on your side.)

He said in a low voice, but.

"W-Who goes there!?"

One of the guards pointed his spear at him, so Laggy had no choice but to stand up, show the Black Rose Knights’ crest embroidered on his mantle, and feign composure.

"...I am Laggy Daylight, knight to Her Highness Princess Artemisia. I was climbing the tower to clear my head, but I have urgent business and had to jump down. …Let me pass."

"Ah, yes, sir."

Both guards confirmed the crest on his mantle and Laggy’s face, and lowered their spears. The news that Artemisia’s exclusive knight was a werewolf had reached even the lowest-ranking soldiers. With a sigh, Laggy looked up at the roof of the round tower he had just jumped from.

"........."

With the blue moon behind her, Princess Chouchou was leaning over the breastwork, looking down at the wall walk where Laggy was.

She shouldn’t have been able to see him, but she might have heard their exchange.

"........."

He didn’t want his identity to be revealed later. In the princess’s mind, he wanted to remain a stray dog. That way, only the memory of a pleasant time would remain for both of them.

Though he knew the princess couldn’t see him, Laggy bowed once and left.

The princess silently leaned over the breastwork, her golden hair fluttering in the night wind.

*

"...Princess? What is the matter?"

The handmaiden who had stepped onto the roof of the round tower asked Chouchou’s back with a puzzled expression as she leaned over the breastwork.

Chouchou silently looked down at the wall walk for a moment, then turned to her handmaiden.

"...I had a visitor."

"A visitor…? …But no one came down."

"...He must have been startled by you and jumped from here. …Though he has a very large body, his heart seems to be delicate."

Chouchou said this, and once again turned her face in the direction where her mysterious audience had disappeared.

"...It wasn’t a puppy. Silly me…"

From the smell of his fur, she had thought he was a stray dog that had wandered into the castle. But the more she sang in front of him, the more she realized that wasn’t the case. A stray dog wouldn’t have reacted to joy, sadness, or longing, and it wouldn’t have cried.

"...He cried when he heard my song. …He seems to be a person with a very complex inner self…"

Through the space between them, the emotions of her one and only audience had been transmitted to her. It was a first for Chouchou, a strange experience of sharing emotions with a stranger through music.

The elderly handmaiden listened with a suspicious expression, then came to stand beside Chouchou at the breastwork, leaned out, and called down to the guards on the wall walk.

"Did someone just come by there?"

The guard looked up at the handmaiden and answered in a gruff tone, "A werewolf ran away!"

Chouchou and the handmaiden exchanged puzzled glances.

Another guard called out with a laugh, "It was Sir Laggy, Her Highness Artemisia’s guard! He jumped from up there and ran off that way!"

The guard pointed to a castle tower beyond the walkway. The door was already closed, and the werewolf was gone.

With a startled "Eh," the handmaiden turned to Chouchou with a tense expression.

"That’s the werewolf who dueled in the bailey earlier! He was here!? How terrifying, was he trying to eat you, Princess!?"

"No, he was no harm at all. I thought he was a stray dog…"

Sir Laggy. Chouchou memorized the name.

The handmaiden’s eyes widened.

"He’s the beast that bit off his opponent’s neck! Oh, how dreadful, he might come back. Princess, you must never come here alone again!"

"Oh, no, but…"

This round tower was deserted and was Chouchou’s favorite solo performance venue. It would be a problem if it were taken from her.

"What was His Majesty’s business?"

She changed the subject. After a moment of silence, the handmaiden remembered her purpose and said, "Oh, that’s right. He bids you come to the ‘Chamber of Silence’ at once. It seems to be an important matter, and your siblings have also been summoned."

"...I see. Very well. Let us return for now."

Chouchou nodded and decided to return to her room to get ready. It had been several months since she had been summoned by King Dada. The visit of the werewolf, the king’s summons—many strange things were happening tonight. With a slight sense of unease, Chouchou took her white cane and descended the spiral staircase…

*

†††

*

The "Chamber of Silence" was the king’s private audience chamber, located in the middle floors of the Gato Kingdom Castle’s main keep.

The great hall below was filled with devices for eavesdropping on whispered conversations, such as wall niches, hidden doors, and secret passages, but the "Chamber of Silence" was designed to protect the secrets of the royals, with thick stone walls that had no such devices and only a single entrance, making it impossible for spies to infiltrate.

On the high seat was King Dada.

He sat in a velvet-upholstered armchair with a white cat carved into the backrest, his cheek resting on his hand, his sculpted upper body still bare, a faint smile on his face as he looked down at his four assembled legitimate children.

The granite floor was covered with a high-quality Madrian carpet. The wall sconces held beeswax candles. In the center, on a single-plank holly table, was a map of the area around the Grapeland Sea drawn on fine vellum. Beside the map, three iron cages resembling birdcages were placed.

Inside the cages floated balls of fire wreathed in heatless flames.

The one wreathed in pale green flames was the Holy Orb of "Loyalty," which had just left the deceased Gasper.

Of the other two, one had the Oyashima character for "Propriety" shimmering faintly within silver flames, and the other had the character for "Filial Piety" within golden flames.

To the king’s right stood Queen Mariana, and to his left, the chancellor, Nanahara Yoshiharu, with his usual gentle smile.

King Dada’s usual smirk vanished, and with a serious expression, he addressed his four children, who were gathered around the map.

"What happens here from now on is not to be spoken of to anyone outside of the seven people in this room."

The first princess, Chouchou, twenty-two. The first prince, Gaga, twenty. The second princess, Lulu, eighteen. The second prince, Toto, sixteen. The four candidates for the throne, who were already fine adults, received their father’s words without changing their expressions.

"We seven are bound together. The secrets of the Gato royal family are known only to us seven. Trust no one who is not here."

It was what they had been told since they were born. There was nothing particularly new about it. In this world filled with lies and betrayal, the only ones they could trust were their family and Nanahara Yoshiharu. That was King Dada’s teaching.

"Tomorrow, the situation in the Grapeland Sea will change dramatically. To be precise, I will change it. Today’s ceremony was just bait to draw in guests. My real move is the proclamation tomorrow."

At King Dada’s words, the four of them straightened up. The atmosphere was clearly serious.

The king looked over his children and, after a dramatic pause, announced, "Six months from now, after October tenth, the kingdom will collect a transit tax from all ships entering the Grapeland Sea through the Three-pronged Strait. The amount will be one-tenth of the purchase price of the cargo. Any ship that attempts to pass without paying will be fired upon."

At these words, the four heirs showed their surprise.

The Three-pronged Strait was a vital transportation hub at the entrance to the Grapeland Sea from the outer sea, with over a thousand ships, large and small, passing through it each day. The Gato Kingdom was located in a position to control the Three-pronged Strait, but could they really collect a tax from every ship?

"A grace period of only six months? And what will be the method of collection?"

When the second prince, Toto, asked, the king shifted his gaze to Yoshiharu and jutted his chin. He seemed to find explaining troublesome. Yoshiharu answered matter-of-factly, "All ships attempting to enter the Grapeland Sea will be required to make a port call at our kingdom. Our customs officials will inspect the cargo, levy the tax, and after collection, the ship will hoist three signal flags—red, yellow, red—on its foremast and pass through the strait. Any ship attempting to enter the Grapeland Sea without these signal flags will be boarded and inspected by the high-speed galleys that patrol the surrounding waters. Any ship that attempts to flee will be fired upon from the air sailboats and the northern and southern batteries. The three-colored flags will be collected by our resident officials on site when the ship returns to its home port to prevent them from being reused. As for ships leaving the Grapeland Sea, we will not collect a transit tax. The reason is simple: it would be difficult to enforce."

The airspace above the Three-pronged Strait was controlled by the Gattoland Air Fleet, and there was no surface naval force that could counter an attack from the air. This tax was only possible because the Gato Kingdom controlled both the sea and the sky of the Three-pronged Strait. Yoshiharu continued, "After implementation, there will likely be bribery of customs officials and counterfeiting of the three-colored flags. We will increase surveillance of customs and patrol of the sea and sky, and we will deal with tax evasion with severe penalties, including cannon fire. If you have any questions, please ask."

Gaga, with a serious face, asked Yoshiharu, "Is our country in such dire financial straits?"

Yoshiharu, with a perfectly straight face, replied, "The maintenance costs for the navy and air force alone account for a quarter of the national budget. For an island nation like ours, the strength of our navy and air force is our national power, and we cannot reduce it. It is reasonable for the fleet to earn the money to maintain itself. In the future, we are also considering selling the right of free passage through the strait to reduce the cost of inspections. The maritime transit tax will contribute greatly to the maintenance and development of our navy and air force in the future…"

Only a nation with the naval power to control and maintain its sovereign waters could collect a maritime transit tax. The reason no country had taxed maritime traffic before was because they couldn’t, even if they wanted to.

Toto thought for a moment and said, "...Traders who export goods to the Grapeland Sea will likely unload all their cargo at the Gato Kingdom just before the Three-pronged Strait to avoid paying the transit tax. …In that case, the merchants who buy goods in the Grapeland Sea will also have no choice but to gather on this island."

King Dada nodded.

"Exactly. On top of that, we’ll exempt the Gato-affiliated guilds from the transit tax. This way, we’ll be the sole winners. In a few years, both the Granadio Upper Jaw Peninsula and the Apollodeo Lower Jaw Peninsula will dry up, and we’ll have no more enemies in the Grapeland Sea. You wouldn’t just let a lucrative deal like this pass you by, would you?"

If the transit tax was implemented, goods and merchants would gather on this island, and they would also collect enormous market and customs taxes. The Gato Kingdom would grow stronger, while the great powers of the Grapeland Sea would grow weaker. It was a win-win for the kingdom, but it was too much of a one-sided victory.

"Have the other cities agreed to this?"

At Toto’s question, King Dada gave him a look of exasperation.

"Agreements are for equals. For those who are not, you just have to give them orders."

Toto was inwardly appalled at his father.

This is madness.

He had never heard of taxing passage through the Three-pronged Strait in the thousand-year history of the region. What would happen if they did something like this so suddenly, without the consent of the other cities?

"This will mean war," said the first prince, Gaga.

The king laughed. "That would be perfect."

"And if it doesn’t?"

"As time passes, the Grapeland Sea Alliance will wither, and we will grow fat. Whether a war breaks out or not, it is the Grapeland Sea Alliance that will perish."

King Dada’s cat ears twitched happily, and beside him, Nanahara Yoshiharu smiled faintly.

Officially, the Gato Kingdom was also part of the "Grapeland Sea Alliance," but King Dada clearly distinguished between the kingdom and the rest, viewing them as enemies. Even though the Black Rose Knights had sent Artemisia as a ward and effectively shown their submission, the king’s view of them had not changed.

How selfish…

Though he was his father, Toto was disgusted by this way of doing things. The two capes at the nexus of the Grapeland Sea and the outer sea, Gray Cape on the Upper Jaw Peninsula and Red Cape on the Lower Jaw Peninsula. Six months ago, batteries had been completed on the two capes owned by the Gato Kingdom, putting all ships passing through the strait within range. King Dada had installed a total of over two hundred large-caliber cannons on the northern and southern capes with the intention of collecting a transit tax from the very beginning.

He thought it was a typical move for King Dada, who had raised the Gato Kingdom to the position of leader of the Grapeland Sea in a single generation. No matter how things turned out, there were only benefits for the kingdom. But.

"...I see no just cause," Toto couldn’t help but ask the king. He knew he would be laughed at, but it was just too one-sided, a way of trampling on the weak.

The king’s dry snort was about to blow away Toto’s question… but unexpectedly, the reply was a word of admiration.

"Oh, so you’re talking about just cause now. You’ve grown up. That’s right, the backbone of a national policy is its just cause. As a reward for noticing, I’ll teach you the essence of a just cause."

King Dada descended from the high seat, walked up to Toto, and suddenly slammed his fist into his solar plexus with all his might.

"!?"

Without even a groan, Toto collapsed to the floor. King Dada’s sculpted fist was feared to be able to kill a bear. He couldn’t breathe. He rubbed his forehead on the carpet, his eyes wide, his mouth open, and let out a dry gasp.

Looking down at the prostrate Toto, King Dada asked the others, "Who is in the wrong?"

No one said a word. Yoshiharu remained motionless with his usual smile, Queen Mariana covered her mouth with her hand in surprise, the first prince, Gaga, stared into space without changing his expression, the second princess, Lulu, was flustered, and the blind first princess, Chouchou, couldn’t grasp what had happened.

"Gaga, who among us is the most in the wrong?"

At King Dada’s question, the first prince, Gaga, answered calmly, "Toto. Because he is foolish. Foolishness is evil."

King Dada nodded and asked Lulu, "Lulu, what is your opinion?"

The kind-hearted second princess, Lulu, with tears in her eyes, said fearfully, "I-I don’t know. I don’t want to know…"

She avoided answering. She knew that King Dada was clearly in the wrong, but if she said so, she might anger the king and suffer the same fate.

King Dada turned to Chouchou.

"You heard our exchange, didn’t you? To make him understand what a just cause is, I punched Toto in the gut with all my might. Toto is now rubbing his head on the floor in agony. Who is the bad guy?"

Chouchou listened to his explanation with her mouth agape.

"His Majesty the King," she answered as if it were obvious. King Dada laughed.

"Why?"

"It is wrong to hit someone who has done nothing."

"Toto criticized the king for having no just cause. Isn’t the bad guy this brat who tried to shame the king in front of everyone?"

As he said this, King Dada stepped on Toto’s face with one foot and ground it into the carpet. Toto groaned in pain, and Lulu, with tears in her eyes, pleaded, "S-Stop it…!"

"What’s wrong, Chouchou? Am I the bad guy?"

Even without her sight, Chouchou could grasp the general situation from the vibrations in the air and her hearing. Hearing Toto’s agony, she bit her lip and said, "...No. ...Please forgive Toto."

With a chuckle, King Dada removed his foot, knelt in front of Toto, grabbed his hair, and forced him to look up, whispering, "Everyone says that the just cause is with me. In other words, I am the good guy, and you are the bad guy. Do you understand, villain?"

Forced to look up, Toto could only contort his face in pain.

King Dada curled his lip and said, "A just cause is just a pretext. It doesn’t need any substance. If you want to play the good guy, beat your opponent to a pulp, come up with a pretext, and label the corpse a villain. No matter what the pretext is, if you’re strong enough, it’ll pass."

*




Toto opened one eye and glared at his father, who was close by.

Isn’t that just what a scumbag would do?

You’re no better than a common thug.

That thought was conveyed in his gaze.

"What? You don’t like the king’s way of thinking?"

King Dada laughed happily and, with his left hand still tangled in Toto’s hair, balled his right fist again.

"Stop it!"

Queen Mariana cried out in anguish, her long golden hair streaming behind her as she stepped between them. She knelt on one knee on the carpet, her jade-green eyes fixed on the king, and shielded Toto as if to embrace him.

"Toto can understand with words, without violence! He’s not some dog or cat…!"

Her voice trembled with anger and sadness.

Toto managed to catch his breath, gently pushed his mother away with one hand, stood up, and looked his father straight in the eye.

"...I will take it to heart, Your Majesty."

He wiped the blood from his mouth with his arm and calmed his still-ragged breathing. Beside him, the queen was still fussing over his clothes with a worried expression, but at Yoshiharu’s urging, she returned to the high seat, her anger showing in her mouth and her steps.

King Dada also returned to the high seat, sat down again, and surveyed the room.

"Now, for the main topic. If we go to war with the Grapeland Sea Alliance, the most troublesome opponent will not be their fleet or their army, but the ‘Three Saints’ of the Black Rose Knights. Ione of Righteousness, Lukamakion of Trust, and Callistratus of Brotherhood. In the unlikely event that all three of them come at us at once, I will be at a disadvantage on my own. So… I have decided to have you inherit the Holy Orbs. With my Benevolence and these three orbs, we will not be outmatched even against the Three Saints."

At the king’s words, the first prince, Gaga, and the second prince, Toto, exchanged a silent glance. They confirmed with each other that the day they had been waiting for had finally come. On the other hand, the first princess, Chouchou, and the second princess, Lulu, were as usual, just listening to the king’s words.

Of the eight Holy Orbs—Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, Loyalty, Trust, Filial Piety, and Brotherhood—Benevolence, Propriety, Loyalty, and Filial Piety were held by the Gato Kingdom, Righteousness, Trust, and Brotherhood were held by the Black Rose Knights, and the last one, Wisdom, was missing. The king was now about to decide the Successors for the three orbs that had been held in reserve for so long. Both Gaga and Toto tensed, wondering which orb they would inherit.

"First, the Orb of Loyalty. The one Gasper just had. This unlucky thing, whose hosts have died one after another… Toto. You will inherit it."

Toto gasped.

Loyalty…!

Every knight in this world dreamed of becoming a Successor of one of the only eight Holy Orbs in the world. That dream was coming true today. He was happy. But.

Loyalty… huh.

He couldn’t help but think that. As King Dada had just said, the two previous Successors of "Loyalty" had died in duels, so it didn’t seem to be a very strong orb… He had heard rumors that among the eight orbs, there was a "dud" that consumed the life of its Successor, and he wondered if "Loyalty" was it. He wasn’t asking for King Dada’s "Benevolence" or Ione’s "Righteousness," which were said to be the strongest, but he couldn’t help but wish for a slightly stronger orb.

Ignoring Toto’s feelings, King Dada turned his eyes to the next orb and announced, "Next, the Orb of Propriety. This one, Chouchou, you will inherit."

"Eh," it was the first prince, Gaga, who half-opened his mouth.

"Make Chouchou a Successor…? For what… reason…"

Chouchou, who had been named, also showed a hint of confusion on her face, though she did not protest.

"You will understand when you inherit it. The nature of a Holy Orb should only be known by the person who inherits it. Others should not carelessly try to learn the nature of other orbs."

King Dada said this in a tone that brooked no argument. There were no definitive accounts of what kind of power the eight orbs bestowed upon their Successors. Information could only be obtained from myths, legends, and a limited number of books, so even a royal like Toto only had a rumor-level knowledge of the orbs. The only certain thing was that "the Successor of a Holy Orb possesses a power that transcends the laws of the world."

"If I inherit that, will I also… be of use?" Chouchou, who could not see, timidly asked the king. The king grinned as usual.

"Propriety is a good fit for you. I’ll say it again, you’ll understand the reason when you inherit it. After you understand the ability of Propriety, you are not to tell anyone the truth about its nature. The rest of you are not to ask Chouchou about the power of Propriety. This is for the sake of the kingdom, and for Chouchou herself. Do you understand?"

"...Yes, Your Majesty."

Gaga, Toto, and Lulu had no choice but to agree to the king, who was pressing them from the high seat.

"Now, for the last one, the Orb of Filial Piety… This one, Lulu, you will inherit."

"What, me!?" the second princess, Lulu, cried out in a bewildered voice. Beside her, the first prince, Gaga, was openly displeased.

The king looked at the two of them with amusement.

"Yoshiharu and I discussed it, and this orb is best suited for Lulu. In battle, you will always be by my side, and you will use the power of Filial Piety at my signal. You have a good affinity with the power of Filial Piety."

"What’s that supposed to mean? I’m honestly not cut out for fighting. I can’t kill people."

Lulu protested to the king with a genuinely disgusted expression. But King Dada would not listen.

"This is not a power to kill people. If used skillfully in battle, it can turn the tide. But if you don’t have an aptitude for it, you won’t be able to master it. That’s why it’s you. No complaints."

"Wha, whaaat… But… I mean… I don’t really want anything like that…"

Lulu, bewildered, was at a loss for words. Beside her.

"...Does that mean I am not worthy of being a Holy Orb Successor?" the first prince, Gaga, asked the king, suppressing his anger.

The king, looking bored, picked his ear.

"You’re not compatible with those three. That’s all there is to it. You will inherit Benevolence after I die. It’s decided that you will inherit the strongest orb, so just be patient until I die."

Gaga bit his lip and swallowed the words he was about to say. As the king said, one day he would inherit "Benevolence" and be able to summon the "Firebird" that had overwhelmed even Ione. He had no choice but to believe and wait for that day.

Beside him.

"If you say I can be of use… I have absolutely no confidence, but…"

"I’m kind of, like, if I inherit something like that, I’m worried my life will be targeted… My dream is to live peacefully with everyone, without fighting…"

The first princess, Chouchou, and the second princess, Lulu, were completely unmotivated, the second prince, Toto, was slightly displeased that he had inherited the Orb of "Loyalty," and the first prince, Gaga, was still dissatisfied that he was the only one who hadn’t been able to inherit one.

Looking at his children’s lackluster reactions, King Dada sighed.

"What’s wrong with you all, be happier. There are tens of thousands of knights in the world who want to inherit a Holy Orb, and you’ve been chosen as one of only eight. Don’t be so greedy. Now, inherit them. Open the cages and crush the orbs."

At his peremptory command, Toto faced the orb of "Loyalty," Chouchou the orb of "Propriety," and Lulu the orb of "Filial Piety." They opened the hinged doors of their respective cages.

Moving the cage slowly and carefully, Toto took the Orb of "Loyalty" out.

The orb, wreathed in pale green flames, floated gently above the single-plank table, the character for "Loyalty" glowing.

Beside him, Chouchou, with Yoshiharu’s help, opened the cage of "Propriety," and Lulu, looking reluctant, placed the Orb of "Filial Piety" in front of her, glanced at Toto, and said, "So, I just grab this? It’s not going to bite me, is it?"

"...I don’t think it will bite. …But it will possess you…"

"Ew, no way… I’m fine just the way I am…"

As Lulu continued to resist, King Dada muttered as he scratched the base of his cat ears with one hand, "How long are you going to keep this up? I’d rather give it to someone more reliable if I could, but I can’t trust any of them…"

"Shouldn’t I inherit Filial Piety as well? I have heard that one person can inherit any number of orbs," the first prince, Gaga, said to the king, not having learned his lesson.

The king finally showed his anger.

"You wouldn’t be able to master it even if you did! That’s enough, shut up! It’s a royal command, do as you’re told!"

He said this without allowing for any argument. With the words "royal command," they could no longer resist.

It was Toto who first reached out his right hand to the Orb of "Loyalty."

"........."

He wrapped his right palm around the ostrich-egg-sized orb, which was wreathed in a cold flame, and squeezed.

The light scattered. The flame dissolved into thousands of fine particles and vanished into the air.

There was no sound, no heat. Only a faint sensation, like breaking thin ice, passed over his palm.

Pale green particles of light leaked from between his clenched fingers. The light ran up his right arm, over his shoulder, and reached his heart—.

Thump. Toto’s heart beat once, loudly.

Something that was not himself melted into the depths of his consciousness.

New ripples burst from the center of his body to his extremities, once, twice—.

A pale green film spread out behind Toto. It was the same phenomenon as when Gasper had been fighting.

In the center of the aurora-like, shimmering light, the Oyashima character for "Loyalty" glittered.

"........."

Toto felt something stirring within him. He had heard that each of the eight orbs had its own will and would grow by cooperating with its host. Was this ripple that was bursting inside him that?

Beside him, Lulu and Chouchou, looking scared, followed his example and squeezed their respective orbs. A silver shimmer with the character for "Propriety" appeared behind Chouchou, and a golden shimmer with the character for "Filial Piety" appeared behind Lulu, and then they quickly vanished.

"Not much of a change, is there? It’s like that at first. The orb will slowly melt into your consciousness and begin to interfere," King Dada said with his usual faint smile, looking over his three children who had become Successors.

"The orb will teach you how to use its power. You are never to tell anyone else what that is. Not even your siblings. In the case of your orbs, if their power is known to others, they will be countered. If they don’t know what it is, they can’t counter it. You understand?"

"Yes, Your Majesty," Toto answered, straightening his back. Lulu and Chouchou, though they still had expressions of bewilderment, also nodded in understanding.

"........."

Only Gaga stood a little apart, watching his three siblings. He still seemed to be unconvinced, but he could not defy the royal command and could only show his dissatisfaction on his face.

"As you probably know, a Holy Orb will not leave its Successor’s body until they die, and a single person can inherit any number of them. If any of you dies, whoever is nearby should crush the orb that appears. You saw the orb float out of Gasper’s corpse when he died, right? It’ll come out like that, so grab it quick. Never let the enemy get it. It’s better for one person to have multiple orbs than for them to fall into someone else’s hands.

Also, this is the most important thing… but it’s something I can’t explain clearly, which is a pain. So listen up, you hear me?"

King Dada, in a rare, roundabout way of speaking, looked over the three new Successors and continued, "As you know, there are eight orbs in total. Each has a name: Benevolence, Righteousness, Propriety, Wisdom, Loyalty, Trust, Filial Piety, and Brotherhood. These names have meaning. Those who have inherited an orb should think carefully about the meaning of the name of the orb they possess. Think about why it has that name, and why you were the one to inherit it. You understand?"

It was a very abstract way of putting it. Toto placed a hand on his chest and thought about the meaning of the orb he had inherited, "Loyalty."

"Loyalty"… it meant loyalty. For a knight, loyalty to one’s king was essential. The eight characters written on the orbs were said to represent the eight virtues a warrior of the Oyashima Tribe should possess, and that path was similar to the path of a knight.

Why did I inherit Loyalty, I wonder…?

He didn’t know what it meant. King Dada only gave him a riddle and no answer.

"It’s meaningless unless you find the answer yourself. It’s not something you can just say ‘yes, sir’ to if someone tells you."

King Dada’s explanation made it even more confusing. Glancing at the equally puzzled Lulu and Chouchou, King Dada cleared his throat.

"Well, I have to be going. I have an appointment with someone important. If you don’t understand something, ask Yoshiharu. The only ones who know all the secrets of the orbs are me and Yoshiharu. See you."

King Dada casually tossed out these important words and rose from his chair. The banquet was still going on in the inner bailey, and the occasional coquettish cries of the prostitutes could be heard in the distance. The king, who at sixty-three showed no signs of aging, seemed to be planning to enjoy the rest of the night elsewhere. Without even a glance at Queen Mariana, who was renowned as the "Most Beautiful Woman in the Grapeland Sea," the king left the "Chamber of Silence."

"........."

As soon as the king had left, Queen Mariana also descended from the high seat and walked over to Toto, Lulu, and Chouchou.

"...Are you alright? …Do you feel unwell at all? …To make even Lulu and Chouchou, who have nothing to do with fighting, inherit these things…"

She looked at her three children who had become Successors one by one with a worried expression. The children, to reassure their gentle mother, put on a brave face and returned a faint smile.

"...In the process of the Holy Orbs attuning to their hosts, several special phenomena will occur. The orb itself may speak to you, or you may catch glimpses of the memories of past owners in your dreams… You may be bewildered at first, but it is proof that the orb is properly attuning to you, so there is no need to be afraid. If you find it difficult to get used to, please consult the scholar Master Brandon, who is well-versed in the Holy Orbs, and he will handle it appropriately," Nanahara Yoshiharu said politely. The queen smiled and looked at Yoshiharu.

"I’m counting on you, Chancellor Nanahara. If you don’t hold the reins, His Majesty is like a wild horse…"

It was a remark that would have been a big problem if any other aide had been present, but in this room, it was permissible. Yoshiharu and the four children were tired of hearing the queen’s complaints. The queen had married the forty-year-old king when she was fifteen and had given birth to four children in quick succession in seven years, but after that, there had been nothing, while the king had fathered over two hundred children with his concubines. Her love for the king had long since died, or perhaps it had never existed. Her love for her four children was excessive, and that was her only reason for living.

"I don’t see how they can stand up to the Three Saints," Gaga suddenly said to Yoshiharu. Yoshiharu, behind his usual gentle smile, had a sharp glint in his eyes.

"Uh… I was thinking that too," Lulu also agreed with Gaga and looked at Yoshiharu with a worried expression. Even questions that their father would dismiss as a nuisance, Yoshiharu would take seriously.

"...The Three Saints belonged to the Black Rose Knights ten years ago. Now, all three have parted ways with the knights and have withdrawn to their own territories with their own armies. Furthermore… I have been working on the Three Saints to ensure they will be on the kingdom’s side if the Grapeland Sea forms an alliance…"

Yoshiharu had sent his own long-distance merchants—in other words, spies—all over the Grapeland Sea to gather information, spread rumors, hand out money, and win over new allies. The rapid rise of the Gato Kingdom had been supported by Yoshiharu’s meticulous and clever policies.

"Hmm…" Gaga nodded. "But what if, like ten years ago, the Three Saints come at us all at once?"

At that question, Yoshiharu gave a heavy nod.

Ten years ago, in the "Battle of Sea and Air In Three-pronged Strait" where the Grapeland Sea Alliance and the Gato Kingdom army had clashed, the kingdom’s fleet, which was said to have an overwhelming advantage, had suffered heavy losses at the hands of the Three Saints. Among them, the Successor of the Holy Orb of Righteousness, the "Sword Saint" Ione, had swung his burning sword, "The Flame," and single-handedly sunk three air battleships, an unprecedented feat of arms that was still sung about by many bards today.

"His Majesty King Dada will scatter them. Just like ten years ago. The Holy Orb of Benevolence is the strongest. In the end, even Ione was no match for the Firebird."

"But in that battle, we also lost the Successors of Propriety, Loyalty, and Filial Piety. Toto aside, Chouchou and Lulu are clearly weaker than the Successors from ten years ago. I don’t think it will end without incident."

"...Unlike ten years ago, the kingdom’s current naval and air power is more than double that of the Grapeland Sea Alliance. Even the Three Saints will not side with the losing side. If a war breaks out, the outcome for the Grapeland Sea Alliance will be grim."

At Yoshiharu’s reply, Chouchou and Lulu exchanged worried glances, Gaga still looked dissatisfied, and Toto responded with a determined expression.

If I face the Three Saints on the battlefield, I will challenge them fair and square.

Toto decided this in his heart. As the Successors of the Holy Orbs had done before him, he would have to face any enemy, no matter how strong, whether he lived or died.

Because I am the second prince of this country.

If he showed a disgraceful appearance on the battlefield, it would not only be his own name but the name of the Gato royal family that would be tarnished. Not only that, but his disgrace would quickly be spread to the people of the city and become a laughingstock for decades, even centuries. The position of a prince attracted that much public attention and was that easy to become a topic of conversation. Now that he had become a Successor of one of the only eight Holy Orbs in the world, he could no longer fight a shameful battle.

I will fight as a knight.

As a true knight who helps the weak and crushes the strong…!

Feeling the breath of the Orb of "Loyalty" seeping into the depths of his consciousness, Toto held that thought even more strongly.

At that moment, for some reason, an image of Artemisia’s smile flashed through Toto’s mind.

It was the smile of a guileless girl, as fresh and cool as a summer flower.

Yes, I will become a great knight, one that Artemisia will acknowledge…

Toto’s heart whispered such things on its own. Though bewildered that he was having such thoughts, Toto felt his heart flutter. He thought he saw a future where he, clad in silver armor, would return in triumph as a true knight, with a smiling Artemisia by his side.

Thump-thump, Toto’s heart pounded.

It was as if the Orb of "Loyalty" that had melted into the depths of his consciousness was whispering that the scene he had just seen would become a reality in the near future.

What am I thinking…

Realizing his own thoughts, Toto suddenly came back to his senses and lowered his head, his cheeks flushing. He was bewildered that thoughts he had never had before were popping into his head, perhaps as an effect of inheriting the Holy Orb.

"...Toto, are you alright? Your face is bright red…"

Beside him, Lulu noticed and peered into his face. Feeling embarrassed, Toto quickly turned his head away.

"...It’s nothing. Maybe it’s the effect of inheriting the orb. I just feel a little strange…"

He made an excuse, placing a hand on his chest to calm his racing heart.

Nanahara Yoshiharu said in a quiet tone, "...As I mentioned, the memories of past Successors remain in the orbs. These memories will affect the new Successor as dreams or auditory hallucinations, and sometimes they will convey the desires of past Successors. If you have any anxieties, even over trivial matters, please consult me or Master Brandon…"

Toto nodded and clenched the hand on his chest. His thoughts burst with anticipation for the future, wondering what fate the Orb of "Loyalty" that had melted into the depths of his consciousness would bring him…