Chapter 30 – Berserkers’ Gathering

I remember it was Alhart who first complained that it was a troublesome ‘plan’.

It was certainly troublesome.

Rain thinks he wasn’t the only one who agreed with it.

“Why’re we goin’ in such a roundabout way?”

Rain asked the question while the plan was being prepared steadily behind the scenes, during the time when the members of the Two-Name Holders gathered at the guild branch.

“Ah, I thought so too.”

The one who followed up with a response was Alhart, who lazily leaned with his upper body over the table as if he found the situation truly troublesome.

“Why are we going out of our way to lend power to 2 countries? If we’re setting up a war, isn’t it better to just lend our resources to Rulan Kingdom and take Rideiran Kingdom after destroying it? Even the Saintess can be captured during the confusion in the battle. Then, we can just as easily have her purify the tainted lands for us. In the first place, even if we don’t set up a war, we can easily capture 1 or 2 countries if we felt like it.”

It was an extremely honest opinion.

It was a fact, not an overestimation.

In capturing 2 countries, their usual way of dealing with it was usually through directly challenging their opponents instead of expressly scheming behind the scenes.

However, the plan this time was to operate behind the scenes and to revisit the KO-counter just before the end of it all.

If this plan succeeds, the damage to both countries will be great. Especially, Rideiran Kingdom, who will be rattled as they suffer attacks from demons on the inside and from the neighboring countries on the outside, and be shown further hell right after their country is lost…… particularly for the Royal Family and those who follow them, it is no exaggeration to say that they would be driven to the edge of despair.

The same applies to Rulan Kingdom, who has wanted to acquire their neighboring country for a long time, whose allies will turn their fangs on them after working together.

And then, they, The Dipterous Sword, will avenge their scorned comrade, and in addition, obtain their own country.

However, if it slips, then it will be just that.

“Certainly, I don’t like that Syl-san was hurt either. ‘M so angry, I wanna kill those guys too. ‘F ya want revenge, then I’ll lend you a hand. However, it’s a plan that takes such a long time to work on, and people who din’t wanna help will help, but isn’t exacting “revenge” against Rideiran Kingdom through the guild and obtaining a new guild “headquarters” a lil’ too lacking?”

Clarina laughed loudly at Rain’s dissatisfied comment.

“Ahahahaha!! Certainly. But Rain-kun, think deeper. It’s as Al-kun said. Even if we didn’t go through the effort of doing such a troublesome thing, we can easily carry off 1 or 2 Saintesses in the confusion, destroy both countries, force the Saintess to purify the tainted lands, and from there, build our headquarters anywhere we wish. However, Jin-sama’s plan is to lend a hand to both sides, guiding them to a desired end while scheming behind their backs, finally betraying their expectations at the end, and building our headquarters in a strategic location. I’m sure everyone, including me, thinks that this plan takes such a long time. Rather, I think everyone has thought of it at least once, no?”

Clarina nods, as she teared up from laughing too much.

“But… But!!! Won’t it be boring if we just destroy the people who hurt and mocked Sylti?? In that case, then, it’s better to pile despair with more despair, humiliate them, and show them a living hell that would make them think death would be better! Those people hurt Sylti. Even that isn’t enough. That’s why, even after everything ends, each time we look at the new headquarters, we will remember. The humiliation we received. Complete defeat. Fear of the strong. Hopeless despair. For eternity, until death, as many times as we want. It’s easy to destroy. But that’s not enough. Not enough at all. Our comrade was hurt. They can’t just die easily. They have to live and continue suffering.”

It was definitely insane.

Crazy. Broken. Abnormal.

However, even if they understood it with an “ahh, I get it now”, it was still strange.

“That’s what I thought. Err, suspected.”

Rain speaks to the man in front of him.

Golden hair and lilac-colored eyes. The man, who shares the same coloring as Syltina, was called Zeld Balratona.

“Actually, issit us who are strange? Or issit the world that’s strange? …… Hey, what d’ya think? Syl-san’s ex-oniisama*?”

“……”

“Ya look like ya dun’ understand why I’m ‘ere. Y’okay?”

“……Why,”

“Yes?”

“Why is someone from The Dipterous Sword here!? Also, revenge? For such traitors……”

“Heeh, comin’ from ya? That’s funny. Haven’t ya heard from Galdt-san?”

“…… Father… knows about this?”

“He knows, and yet…… Y’really haven’t heard, huh. What’s he doin’, that Galdt-san…”

Thinking how truly troublesome it is, Rain exhaled and looked at the man in front of him.

Rain started to grow dark emotions towards the man.

“You bein’ here must mean Galdt-san’s already forgiven you and yer brother, but unfortunately, I don’t intend to forgive ya.”

“What?”

“2 years ago, ya betrayed someone ya shouldn’t’ve betrayed. Ya hurt someone ya shouldn’t’ve hurt. Just cuz’ yer dad’s our ally doesn’t make us your allies. Fer us, Galdt-san is an ally, that’s why we’re also Galdt-san’s allies, but don’t ever forget that we’re not your ally.”

“……”

Ahhh, I want to strangle him right away.

Such are my feelings for someone who’d betrayed my comrade. That’s it. That’s just how it is.

“Well, Galdt-san says it’s about time he sent ya here, so from now on it seems we can use you, too. I’m pretty much here ta explain things to ya.”

“……Wait, are you maybe telling me to carry your palanquin**?”

“A palanquin? Impossible! There’s no such thing!!”

Rain fervently shakes his head as the corners of his mouth lift into a smile.

“This isn’t a place for palanquins. You…… Galdt Balratona and the previous Duke Balratonas, have been working with us, The Dipterous Sword, for some time now.”

“Eh?”

“The only ones who dunno about it are you and yer brother. Din’t ya find it strange? 2 years ago, why was Galdt-san silently watching as his daughter was charged with a crime that was only based on the Prince’s and the Saintess’ accusations and not enough evidence?”

“……”

“From that time on…… I’d say, but things have already started moving under the surface for quite some time now. And, then, it all surfaced 2 years ago. Ev’rythin’ started speedin’ up with Syl-san’s expulsion from the country. I really din’t notice it. The next prime minister’ll be shocked when he hears it. Well, s’not like you’ll become one anyway.”

At that point in the conversation, horses’ neighs could be heard from several kilometers away.

“Oh, looks like the next guy’s arrived. They’ll give you all the details, so just sit tight o’er there.”

“Wait a minute! So soon–”

“Rain!!”

Zeld raises his voice over Rain’s to keep him from ending the conversation.

A group of about 10 people riding horses arrived in the vicinity without them even noticing it.

At the head of the group was a man riding on top of a white horse who called out to Rain once again in a crisp voice.

“Heine-san!! S’been a long time!”

Rain broke into a smile as the man on horseback approached, and, with light movements, nimbly got off the horse and took off the robe he wore.

“Heine Milberia……?”

“Hnn?”

“Why are you here……”

Zeld’s eyes almost popped out in surprise the moment he saw the familiar silver hair and deep red eyes as the man’s face was revealed from under the robe.

Heine Milberia. The Vice Commander of the Knights of Rideiran Kingdom, as well as the Vice Commander of the Special Task Force, which is said to be the strongest unit in the country.

“Huh? The Balratona House sent the eldest son and not the current head?”

“Yeah! But, then, Galdt-san din’t tell ‘im nothin’!

“Heeh. My, my…… that person sure does funny things sometimes.”

“You think that’s funny……huh? Rather, what ‘appened to Famiras-san?”

“Ah, the Captain? If it’s him, well it seems he’s in the middle of having a bit of fun, as always.

“What is it this time?

“It’s mixing-an-ordinary-soldier-into-the-Special Commando-Unit-and-waiting-for-other-people-to-notice kind of game.”

“He has such bad taste.”

“Tell me about it. That’s why the Captain will be staying over there and meeting us at the end…… anyway, you were trying to say something earlier, what was it?

“Oh, umm…”

Heine, who had been light-heartedly chatting with Rain until then, turned his attention to Zeld who was silent and had a wrinkle forming between his eyebrows.

Zeld was unable to say anything due to the sudden attention, but opened his mouth after a few seconds.

“So, does this mean Heine-sama and Famiras-sama are also their allies? Is that why you suddenly disappeared about a year ago?”

“Well, it’s a little different. The Captain and I were originally members of The Dipterous Sword Guild. We became the Knight Commander and Vice-Captain just for the plan.”

“Plan?”

“Ahh, so you don’t know. Do you know the Witch of Foresight?”

“Of course.”

“Her name is Clarina Hamillee. She’s a person who can see the future, you know?”

“The future……? You knew it would become like this, so, you made this plan for that purpose?”

“That’s also a bit off track. What Clarina-san saw was up to Syltina-san’s expulsion from the country only. If I say now, then, it’s until about 2 years ago. She didn’t see the future after that. But, you see, Clarina-san is so good that when she saw the future of 2 years ago, she used her foresight to predict the events after. She predicted, anticipated, guessed, speculated, and from there, the result became the formulated plan we have today. Well, another person made the plan anyway.”

“Kura-san was confident. About the near future of the country where the demons will appear due to the taint, and that the Saintess’ help will be necessary. And that she would need strong escorts.”

“So, we snuck into the country 8 years ago and sold ourselves, and 5 years ago became the Knight Commander and the Vice-Captain. Since then, we have remained to be the top talents in the Kingdom of Rideiran, but the people we’ve raised have now become Rideiran Kingdom’s strongest unit. And that is our purpose.”

“The two strongest men who lead the strongest troops. Those names’ll be the ones who’ll appear first as the Saintess’ escorts. However, those 2 belong to The Dipterous Sword up to the very end. So, before the matter of the Saintess’ escorts were discussed, we had Famiras-san disappear. And after that, Heine-san also disappeared. In doing so, the chances of the news reaching Syltina-san’s ears’ll be high. Then, because it’s Syl-san, she’ll prolly refuse in front of the King and everyone else, so the Master started movin’ the moment Syl-san went to Rideiran Kingdom.”

“Well, Syltina-san did say that it was for the sake of letting the people of Rideiran Kingdom experience the fear and desperation of being betrayed by the strongest troops in the country and to use it as a force in the negotiations with Rulan Kingdom. Clarina-san and the others were originally eager to get Syltina-san involved with the plan.”

“Even so, if Syl-san eventually refused, then that would be unavoidable. Well, if ya look at the succession of events, hadn’t Syl-san also figured it out?”

“What in the world are you people intending to do……?”

Rain and Heine looked at each other and laughed at Zeld, whose face had reddened a lot.

“Didn’t we say it from the start? We’re in the middle of carrying out a troublesome plan. For a long time now.”

“We only want to return more than a hundred-fold of what was done to our comrade. And, then, we’re just wondering if we’ll be provided with a good location to build our new guild headquarters.”

“Well, there are various events that accompany it though.”

Zeld lightly backs away from the two happily laughing men in front of him.

“For only one person’s sake, this is…… even going as far as a war between two countries……”

“Isn’t that why I asked ya? Is it us or the world who’s strange?”

“That kind of thing is…”

It’s definitely you guys who are strange, muttered Zeld in an inaudible voice.

“That-is-why the world is a lot stranger than us.”

Because for us of The Dipterous Sword, ‘that’ is ‘normal’.

Notes:

*oniisama – I could’ve translated this to “honored brother” or “big brother”, but Rain is being sarcastic here, so I kept it

** palanquin – it’s a dajare or a kind of Japanese wordplay. On the original, Rain said “寄越し” (“yokoshi”, which means to pass on or to send), but Zeld probably heard “御輿” (“mikoshi”, which is a festival palanquin), so he misinterpreted it and said the phrase “片棒を担げ” (“katabou wo katsuge”, or to carry a palanquin). Btw, “片棒” (“katabou”) also means “partner”, or “accomplice”

Names:

I decided to keep and change some names from the previous translator’s version (ch.7).

Gared –> Galdt

Zeld – same