Prologue 2- still, they cannot return to the pastSomeone’s ideals.
Someone’s dreams.
Someone’s love.
Someone’s joy.
Everyone wanted him to grant these things.
He wanted to reply to every requests.
He wanted to gain everything from this.
But, one day, he found that that was not possible.
No, he realized, actually everything was not possible.
Even so, he still fought on.
Perhaps there is still some possibility.
Perhaps it can still be done.
It can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done…
He continued to reply.
He responded to a large pressure, desire.
And ideals…
He continued to respond.
He responded as if he were mad…
It can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done, can be done…
In this period, Sion was really very busy.
There were changes to his decrees.
On one hand he had to skillfully handle the response that the n.o.bles had to these measures… at the same time on the Estabul side there were many things that had to be dealt with.
The things that he had to do were piling up.
Claugh and Noa were headed to Estabul to gather talented people, Calne and Eslina were busy too… This time there was almost no one who came to his office for personal business.
Sion himself wasn’t any better off. These days, he was almost unable to sleep at night, frantically arranging all the files and matters that had not be dealt with.
“Huu…”
He sighed in the office.
Pressing a hand to his slightly aching head.
“Ah, this is bad. If I don’t sleep for a while… and continue, my efficiency will drop…”
He murmured, leaning up, looking at the ceiling.
The pure white ceiling.
Actually, the office itself was a simple room that was painted in white. Apart from this room, the other places were a little over-decorated, and lacked a serious atmosphere.
He sat on the chair of this simple room, and closed his eyes.
…In his heart, he thought if someone saw this…
“Fiole will be angry again…”
But, he was still unable to sleep.
As long as he closed his eyes, several matters that urgently needed pondering over flashed across his mind…
Especially the movements of the other countries, that was the problem that gave him the most trouble so far.
Froaude had not returned from Runa.
Originally he only on a mission to greet the king…
Did something bad happen? Or did he find some important information…
Not only that. Even the neighbouring Nelpha was giving off an unstable atmosphere, and it wasn’t dissipating any time soon.
According to reports, the country had some n.o.bles gathering together, attempting to raise a revolution.
The reason for the revolution was probably as other countries were strengthening their armies, the Runa king said that they didn’t plan to increase their military forces, and this instigated the n.o.bles to rebel. The n.o.bles’ reason was this—the world was already changing, why is our country not keeping up?
The n.o.bles of Runa were different from Roland’s. They really were concerned for their country… Because they were worried for Runa’s future, so they decided to rebel.
And—
“…If there is a revolution, and a new king ascends… then the friendship between Roland and Runa as of now will become a blank piece of paper…”
Sion said softly.
At that time, one day…
No…
Sion opened his eyes again, looking at the ceiling.
The white, empty ceiling that made him feel empty. The ceiling slowly darkened as night came. Unknowingly, the sun had started to set. Sion looked in the direction of the window…
“…It seems that I have to light the lamp…”
He said softly, but didn’t make any movements.
The room slowly darkened, the white ceiling was gradually covered with darkness…
Even so, Sion was unmoving.
A dark, simple room.
In the darkness, Sion looked at the ceiling alone.
“……One day, will we… fight with Runa and Nelpha?”
He said with an emotionless voice.
One day when war erupted, many people would die.
And an unbelievably large number of people would die…
In order to prevent this from happening, Sion was working hard now. He sent Froaude to Runa to threaten them… on the other hand he was building up a good relationship with Nelpha.
He admitted that he had used all his strength.
But, the world was still going against his will.
Continuously making fun of him—
Killing…
Killing…
Someone said before—
He wanted to live in a world where there was no war, where everyone could laugh and live every day.
He carried this person’s ideals, and admitted that he was working hard with all his might.
Someone said before—
He wanted a world where everyone would not lose their important things, and have afternoon naps every day…
He carried this person’s ideals, and admitted that he was working hard with all his might.
Someone’s love……
Someone’s joy……
Someone’s hope……
Because someone requested him to do these things……
So……
He wanted to respond to all these requests.
He wanted to gain everything from here.
And, one day, he found that that was impossible.
No, he discovered that everything was impossible.
Despair expanded before his eyes.
Even so, he didn’t give up and continued fighting.
There should be some possibility.
--He had thought.
There should be some hope.
--He had prayed.
It still can be done, it still can be done, it still can be done, it still can be done……
He continued to reply.
He responded to the uncountable large pressure and desire.
There are still ideas…
He continued to respond.
He responded as if he were mad.
It still can be done, it still can be done, it still can be done, it still can be done, it still can be done, it still can be done, it still can be done, it still can be done, it still can be done, it stillcan be done, it still can be done, it still can be done……
Even if the world is about to collapse…
It still can be done…….
Because we already promised.
Because it is a promise with that person……
Even if the way I’m going about it is not right……
But I cannot admit defeat.
Sion slowly reached out.
He reached out to the ceiling illuminated by the weak light.
But the light…
The sun outside had sank below the mountains…
“……I have to light…the lamps…”
Sion murmured softly again.
The scene changed to the villa of a Runa n.o.ble.
Ryner and the others were still there.
Everyone was hungrily eating in the kitchen beside the dining hall, extremely extravagant food stuff, and even foods that they had never eaten before, they ate it all up…
“It’s veeeery yuuummy! Oh no, I haven’t eaten such good food in a while, I’m clearly full, but I can’t stop!”
Ryner shouted, continuously gobbling the cuisine… or it should be called food.
Arua and Ferris were eating their favourite cuisine beside him……
The only exception was Kuku.
“Ah, Arua, we haven’t seen each other in a few days, you seem to have become stronger…”
She said with a surprised expression.
Arua heard that.
“Ah? Is, it that so? But, it’s great that Kuku is fine… Aaaaaaaahhhh, sensei! That’s my meat! I wanted to leave that till the end…”
But Ryner said:
“Hahaha, it’s your fault for not guarding your food. If you don’t properly practice eating the most you can when you can eat… when we have the twenty-hours long sleeping compet.i.tion later, you’ll be unable to sleep because you’re too hungry.”
He said these strange things… Ferris immediately got back at him.
“He’s the model of the Idiot-sama that you should never follow, Arua. You have to ignore everything he says after today. Understand?”
Arua nodded.
“Yes!”
“You still replied yes…”
Ryner immediately retorted. Arua laughed. Then said:
“That……Sensei, I have something to ask you…”
Ryner heard that, and stopped eating. He raised his head and asked:
“Eh? What is it?”
Arua had a serious expression as he said:
“It’s about the future… I want to follow sensei after today…”
But Ryner immediately replied:
“Nope. Bringing children along for the trip is troublesome… Just protecting that troublesome explosive brat is bad enough… Ferris!! Don’t throw the serving plates… Ah, I told you not to take the knife…”
Saying that, he turned back to look at Arua.
“Uh, but, I think you and Kuku, and Kuku’s parents will have a hard time continuing to live in Runa. So, do you want to move to Roland?”
Arua’s eyes widened when he heard this.
“Eh? Ro, Roland? The one in the south…?”
“Yeah, I know the king of that country. Uh, I think you’ll be quite well off there.”
Arua and Kuku hearing that, exchanged looks…
Arua said:
“That is…good, but…I want to stay with sensei, so I can become stronger…”
But, Ryner interrupted him.
“You can become strong in Roland.”
“But…”
At this point, Ryner stared at Arua.
“I say, Arua, have you forgotten why you want to become stronger?”
“Eh?”
“You said, you want to become strong to save Kuku. Now, are you planning to separate from Kuku? Leaving Kuku alone in Roland…?”
“But…”
Arua stopped again…
Ryner laughed.
“Right? You can only go to Roland, right? Because men are like that, they are tied up tightly by women.”
At this moment Ferris nodded and said:
“But, low, horrible people who attack women everywhere, and not taking responsibility still exist…”
At this point Kuku continued:
“Ah, Ferris Onee-san, this kind of people are called useless men, right?”
“Um. You remembered it well. I’ll reward you properly later.”
“Great!”
This conversation sounded familiar, Ryner grabbed his head in pain.
“I say, Ferris…don’t teach the children these kind of things…”
“Huh? But this is something essential for their survival? I remember a book wrote, as long as they form a relationship with useless men, women would be doomed for life.”
Ferris said firmly, Ryner replied sadly:
“I just said, why is your knowledge always so biased…Ah, never mind, na, it’s like that, in a few days, I will ask someone to bring you to Roland. Eh, let’s ask Iris… Ah, she’s Ferris’s little sister? Let’s ask Iris to bring you back…or…”
At this moment, he frowned.
Because he thought of a more suitable person to being Arua and Kuku back…
It was a girl called Milk Callaud.
Because of the king’s deliberate evil arrangement, the girl who belonged to the Roland army, had strangely taken Ryner as a Taboo Breaker and was hunting him down.
Perhaps it was because in the past, they had lived together in the same orphanage…
For some reason, she actually shouted! We said that we’d get married back then! As she chased after him…
“…Uh, I think those people are reaching soon… How do they know of our location every time…”
One reason was clear.
It must be that the king had told them. When Ryner thought of that, his frown deepened.
“Ah, that b.a.s.t.a.r.d king… He’s taking me as a toy… next time I see him, I will have to punch him hard. But, anyway, it should be no problem for us to pa.s.s this task to them? Runa is an allied country too, those people should be able to bring Arua and them to Roland safely?”
Ferris heard that.
“Uh. You said those people, are you referring to the woman that you used marriage as bait, and then after playing with her, abandoned her?”
“I’m saying I didn’t do any of that at all…”
But, Ferris completely ignored Ryner’s explanation, and started to talk nonsense to Kuku again.
“Urgh, she’s not listening at all… Ah, never mind… Ne, it’s like that, Arua.”
Saying that, he looked at Arua.
And, he found that, Arua’s face still had the expression that was filled with his desire to stay with Ryner and the others…
Ryner laughed bitterly and said:
“…Ah, how clingy. You really want to follow us?”
And, Arua nodded forcefully a few times, then…
“Is it not possible?”
But Ryner shrugged.
“Uh, travelling in other countries is very dangerous. Anyway, we seem to have had an increase in enemies… I have to be everywhere at once, I can’t protect you.”
Arua heard that, and he had a sad face.
Ryner laughed. He laughed really happily.
“Ah, it’s not like we won’t see each other forever. Don’t reveal that sort of expression! As long as I have the heart, one day, I will return to Roland too… Before I return, you should live your days happily. You have to become strong, at least you have to be able to protect Kuku herself… Ne, when you become very strong, then I will want you to protect me to…”
But, at this moment Ferris interrupted from the side forcefully, and told Arua:
“So didn’t I tell you, ignore what that man is saying?”
Followed by Kuku saying:
“Yes, Arua. That brother seems to be a convict that is an extreme pervert? It’s scary. You definitely can’t approach him…”
Arua heard this, and asked:
“Eh? Is, is that true? Sensei?!”
He actually asked that…
For some reason, Ferris stood there, and looked at Ryner with a victorious expression.
Ryner seeing that…
“You believe her? You’re believing her words so easily? ……Ah, forget it, it doesn’t matter……Anyway, live well in Roland…Eh.”
Ryner said with a slightly sad tone.
The starting of the report was like this!
People don’t like death.
And they don’t like to kill.
They don’t like to cry helplessly, and they don’t like to cry without a reason.
What is the feeling of being unable to choose your own life?
What is the feeling of having your family die?
What is the emotional state of having your favourite person die?
No one wants to face this, but why does the world laugh and greedily desire for such meaningless grief?
They never thought of forcefully changing things.
But, not changing, always avoiding sadness, and not wanting to lose anything anymore…
It sounds a little troublesome, but…
It’s time to move on. We’ve deliberately avoided facing this problem head on, but, if necessary, then try to face your past head on!
At the same time—
So as to have a world where no one would lose anyone or anything.
A world where that girl, Kiefer will never cry, Tyle, Toni and Fahl wouldn’t die, Sion would not have to face a situation where any choice presents him with troubles.
Let’s progress to a world where everyone can laugh happily, where it is possible to sleep from day to night.
Ryner Lute.
“Ryner Lute…”
After reading that report, Froaude softly uttered.
“A world where no one will lose anything…”
Froaude continued to look at the information that the subordinate had gathered.
The information about a girl called Milk Callaud who was chasing after Ryner Lute who was a Taboo Breaker.
And the information of the team members.
Luke Stokkart.
Lear Rinkal.
Lach Velariore.
Moe Velariore.
Among them the most noticeable name was Luke Stokkart.
He was a talented person who had experienced the revolution with Sion Astal and Claugh Krom.
How strange. This man called Luke Stokkart, had a large achievement that wouldn’t make it strange for him to have the Field Marshal position with Claugh; and, he had that kind of power. But, this man became the subordinate of this girl called Milk Callaud, and went out of the country, chasing Ryner Lute.
And although it was chasing, that was only a name, they didn’t really seem to want to catch the criminal.
That was obvious. Because both sides were moving according to the king’s orders.
Then, if that was the case, why was there a need to have such an act?
“…”
Froaude looked at the report Ryner Lute wrote again.
It was a report that was filled with dreams, as if it were a fake story.
Froaude narrowed his eyes.
“…A leash… Milk Callaud is the leash on Ryner Lute? To prevent Ryner Lute from leaving Roland… No, from leaving Sion Astal… To limit his leash…and to control it is Luke Stokkart.”
Saying that, he took out a dagger. That was a dagger that was made from an inorganic material, s.n.a.t.c.hed from the Gastark a.s.sa.s.sin called Sui, which was recorded in the report.
He twirled that dagger.
“…The Heroes’ Relics… Rhule Fragmei…”
Froaude twirled that dagger again and again.
“…Building a peaceful world where there is no killing…”
He twirled the dagger again.
“…The leash that limits Ryner Lute… that is the king’s weakness… the fear of Ryner Lute leaving him…”
He twirled it again.
“…The ideal world that Ryner Lute wishes for, where no one dies, or gets hurt, or feels sad, and the ideal king… that is the chain tying down Sion Astal…”
Then, Froaude threw the dagger...
He continued to mutter.
“…But that will ruin His Majesty. The ideal king responding to everyone’s expectations. That illusion will destroy people, and the king… It seems that there is a need to erase. Ryner Lute…”
He stood up.
“No, it should be starting from eradicating that leash?”
He said.