Summoned Slaughterer - Book 8

by Ido Masayoshi

  He removed the katana from Bashim’s neck, but Bashim can’t move due to his wrist being immobilized.

  “The thinking that you are strong and the humans are weak resulted in this. You feel offended, don’t you? There might also be some fellows who are considering it as unreasonable, if they are a slightly stupid. So, since I’m a feudal lord-sama who possesses a heart as wide as the wastelands, I thought that I will give you an opportunity for revenge.” (Hifumi)

  He makes a sound as if rubbing silk.

  Without anyone noticing, the katana, held by Hifumi, was swung up from below.

  “Guaaaaaaaaah!” (Bashim)

  Having his left arm severed from the tip of the shoulder, Bashim finally ended up falling off his horse.

  Holding up the arm while grabbing it with his left hand, Hifumi glares at the surroundings.

  “I will return this arm if you come in front of me.” (Hifumi)

  In front of the dumbfounded demon soldiers, he tosses the arm into his darkness storage and wipes his katana with repeatedly stacked papers.

  While hearing the voice of Bashim, who has fainted in agony, from behind as the discarded papers flutter down, Hifumi leisurely goes home.

  A person, who would try to stop him, currently didn’t exist in this place.

  ☻

  Three days later than Hifumi’s party, Alyssa returned to Fokalore while leading the exhausted soldiers.

  “I’m home~…” (Alyssa)

  “Welcome back.”

  Alyssa, who finished the explanation about their holidays and their assignments afterwards, had the unit disperse while having a completely exhausted expression herself as well.

  Returning to the feudal lord’s mansion, Alyssa searched for Hifumi in order to give her report, but as he apparently left to meddle with Vichy right after returning and had departed casually to some place once again, she wasn’t able to meet him.

  In exchange, she’s greeted by Caim and Brokra.

  “Thanks for your hard work, director.”

  Once she gulps down the cold tea, Brokra poured in her cup, in one go while sitting in a chair of the conference room, Alyssa prostrated limply on the table.

  “In the end it didn’t become much of a training. Orsongrande and Horant became friends, and that was it.” (Alyssa)

  “In this time’s matter Orsongrande has probably acquired a superior position in regards to Horant. And in addition, it’s only Fokalore and Münster who supported the royal army at all places. Together with the previous uproar in Horant, the two Earl households have become extremely powerful and influential voices within the country.” (Caim)

  While feeling a sense of discomfort towards Caim who explains it with a tone completely like that of a teacher, Alyssa received another cup of tea from Brokra and sighed.

  “Hifumi-san’s influential voice, or rather, his powerful influence isn’t something that started just now, is it? Even in the matter this time, he manipulated the princess… err, queen-sama and the king over there.” (Alyssa)

  Due to Alyssa chatting as if she had forgotten that she participated in that expedition as well, Caim answered 「Is that so?」 without moving even one eyebrow.

  Since he has finished listening to the reports from the soldiers who returned together with Hifumi, for Caim, who had all the fact stored in his head, it’s apparently no problem to ignore Alyssa’s impressions.

  “However.” (Caim)

  Caim placed a thick bundle of documents in front of the sitting Alyssa.

  “It’s Lord-sama’s influence. And not only that. it’s necessary for you to grasp the influence of the Earl Tohno household and this territory. Since the current Lord-sama is fortunately the source of it all, there is little history that you have to remember, but regarding the circumstances inside and outside the country, you have to do it down to the basics.” (Caim)

  Alyssa timidly extends a hand and looks at one paper titled 『History and the Beginning of Orsongrande』. A long, long essay with illustrations put in-between sometimes was written there.

  “Y-Yeeaa…?” (Alyssa)

  Next Brokra approaches Alyssa who doesn’t know how she should react.

  She holds a dress in her hands.

  “Umm…” (Alyssa)

  “The study of history and politics is important, but for a lady it’s also necessary to practise dancing and etiquette, right? If it’s your age, director, I believe that a cute design still suits you much more than a beautiful one, but what do you think about this one?” (Brokra)

  “I don’t understand what you are saying, Brokra-san.” (Caim)

  Caim retorted from the side with a flat voice, that suited his expressionless face well, towards Brokra, who presents a frilly dress, making her eyes change into dots.

  “It’s very likely a problem to be called a lady with an unsubstantial character. If she studies properly first, her performance will be great, right?”

  “Different from you, Caim-san, there are no cool girls burying their noses in books all day long. If you don’t weave in some enjoyable content, the director will be pitiable, won’t she?” (Brokra)

  “It will be embarassing as long as she doesn’t possess a proper political sense. You can’t compare social life with diplomacy.” (Caim)

  “Since you can’t compare them, you have to consider their balance.” (Brokra)

  “W-Wait a bit.” (Alyssa)

  Alyssa stopped the two, who started a discussion about her training for some reason, by stretching out both hands.

  “I can’t follow your discussion. But, why do I have, umm… to learn history, politics or dance? Or do I have to study such things?” (Alyssa)

  “Huh?”

  Brokra looks at Alyssa with a startled expression.

  “… I see, it seems she didn’t hear about it.” (Caim)

  “Ah… so that’s how it is?” (Brokra)

  When Brokra was looking at the ceiling while curbing her eyebrows, the door of the conference room suddenly opened.

  Caim swiftly lowers his head and Brokra follows up on him as well.

  “Did you return? Good wor-… what’s going on here?”

  Hifumi, who entered the room, picks up a document, lifts it up and scans over it.

  “Being suddenly told to study, I’m totally lost…” (Alyssa)

  “Ah.” (Hifumi)

  Hifumi slaps his own cheek with his right hand.

  “I forgot to tell you. Alyssa, please become my daughter.” (Hifumi)

  “Ha?” (Alyssa)

  “I’m asking you to become my adopted daughter, is what I mean. Since I will give you the territory such as Fokalore and various other.” (Hifumi)

  Alyssa wasn’t aware herself for how many seconds she froze, but after plenty of time, she raised a voice that resembled a scream.

  ☻

  “… Recently I feel like I’m fainting often.” (Imeraria)

  Imeraria muttered while getting up from the bed and scooping up the oatmeal prepared by her maid.

  “Umm, that’s not because of Your Majesty. It’s because you are troubled over various matters regarding a certain person…”

  It was the maid who accompanied her to the battle with Horant that is frantically searching for words to comfort Imeraria who has an expression that seems to be on the verge of crying.

  Directly after returning to the capital , She was also present at the place where Imeraria fainted due to seeing the severed head of the completely changed Balzephon put on display at the plaza right in front of the castle. The maid lost conciousness for an instant as well, but somehow managed to support Imeraria.

  When she recovered more or less after a good night’s sleep, there was a document sent by Fokalore notifying her about an adopted child.

  Due to not being in a normal condition, Imeraria fainted once again after she read the message of Hifumi taking an adopted child in the document. After that she was finally able to get up once it became evening.

  “If I’m told
that this is also the duty of a ruler, it will probably end with this, but… the one who summoned that gentleman into this world is defintely me… geez.” (Imeraria)

  Imeraria, who ate around half of the dish, once again picks up and examines the document regarding the adopted child which was sent from Fokalore.

  A noble taking an adopted child so that they can have the child succeed the family headship doesn’t really need the king’s permission. It’s been arranged that it will be fine as long as they at least request consent if it’s a current family head or a bereaved family.

  This was once again a document composed with a content that might serve as role model due to its regular and well-ordered characters which can be considered to not be Hifumi’s own writing, only the signature lines up strangely poor characters which appear to really be Hifumi’s.

  Imeraria didn’t particularly intend to object about the matter of Alyssa succeeding the territory. It might be something one-sided, but Imeraria feels some intimacy toward her born from the fact that they fought together.

  If I can have her show presence in the upper class, which is a male society, as one of the few female feudal lords, it might become a good restraint towards the men who make light of a queen, she thinks.

  “Excuse me. How’s your condition?” (Sabnak)

  Imeraria silently handed over the document she received from Fokalore to Sabnak who entered after knocking as he probably received a report that Imeraria had woken up.

  “?… This is…” (Sabnak)

  “What do you think is his aim?” (Imeraria)

  The one who probably knows the most about Hifumi inside the castle is Sabnak. Imeraria felt uneasy about him being too close feeling-wise to Hifumi’s side, but she judged that he’s appropriate as advisor.

  “Ah… how to say it…?” (Sabnak)

  “Is it something difficult to say?” (Imeraria)

  “Not as long as I can state it with the premise that it’s nothing but my own guess.” (Sabnak)

  Shifting the plate with the oatmeal to the side, Imeraria placed both her hands, with the fingers entangled, on the table and made a short pause.

  “I don’t mind. Please let me hear it.” (Imeraria)

  “Isn’t he planning to retire so that he can move about freely…? He might have lost interest in being a noble.” (Sabnak)

  “Hasn’t he been moving around freely until now?” (Imeraria)

  “To me it looks like he’s pushing his duties on Alyssa in order to begin preparing something big, but…” (Sabnak)

  Imeraria felt impatient due to Sabnak words.

  “… I guess I have to directly hear about it from the person himself.” (Imeraria)

  Imeraria, who accepted the document from Sabnak after standing up, ordered while furrowing her eyebrows,

  “Please send a summons to Earl Tohno. … Let’s use the war in Vichy as pretext.” (Imeraria)

  However, that matter is naturally no more than a side business.

  What Imeraria wanted to hear was just one thing.

  “What do you intend to do to our world…?” (Imeraria)

  Even if something happens, as person responsible for a country, as person bearing the responsibility of having summoned him and even after putting her desire for revenge aside, there’s something she has to do.

  I might die, but it’s definitely my duty, Imeraria was determined.

  Chapter 160 – A Hard Day’s Night

  The chaos in Vichy is continuing, but for some strange reason Tohno Earldom, which included Fokalore, was calm to a degree that one wouldn’t be able to think that there’s a war going on in the neighbouring country. That is, except for the city at the border, Rhone.

  Besides the soldiers of Orsongrande, who are controlling the national border, the soldiers of Fokalore, who have been stationed there to govern the territory, their families and some merchants, no one lives in Rhone where all inhabitants died before.

  That’s the reason why this town was chosen. It’s easy to manage and close to the border while being filled with empty houses where refugees that escaped from the turmoil in Vichy can live.

  Upon the suggestion and appeal of Orsongrande’s Prime Minister Adol out of worry over the royal treasury, it was decided to entrust the care of the refugees to Hifumi who is governing the area. In all honesty, it’s no stretch to say that Orsongrande’s financial situation is in a dire strait due to the continuous battles. It didn’t have the monetary leeway to support refugees with especially as it’s unknown by how much their numbers will grow.

  Accordingly it resulted in Orsongrande’s government discreetly pushing it onto Hifumi, but Caim, who manages the operational business of Tohno Earldom all by himself instead of Hifumi, readily decided to take responsibility for the matter at hand.

  “It will be fine to take them in as residents and not as refugees on this occasion. It will also be possible to resolve the shortage in human resources. If we provide them a place to stay, they likely won’t complain even about some slightly harsh jobs. If we consider it as procurement of cheap slaves, there won’t be any issues regarding the expenses either.” (Caim)

  Caim’s idea immediately got Hifumi’s authorization.

  For that reason the number of people in Rhone is now increasing rapidly.

  It’s necessary for the refugees to get examined by Orsongrande’s border guard and to furthermore receive a check-up by Fokalore’s soldiers, but as long as they aren’t overly suspicious or have a bad attitude, they will be given permission to enter Rhone.

  For the people, who ran away from the demons and reinforced soldiers in fear while sleeping outdoors for many days, the treatment of being legitimately assigned a house and being even offered work was better than the life in their villages or cities until now.

  Not that much time passed since all the houses became deserted. Thus, even if they have to do the repairs by themselves, the amount of bothersome damage to the houses is little.

  Once they registered things such as their full name, age and career by properly filing a report, they were even able to obtain a temporary support in food and daily commodities. The information about their career was to confirm whether there are any dubious parts, but it will also serve as reference to assign jobs to them.

  I wonder from where the rumours are originating? Factoring in the reality that the war situation isn’t good, the number of refugees flowing into Rhone is increasing day by day.

  As they apparently absolutely forgot who it was that weakened their own country, many of those people are praising the feudal lord Hifumi who is also the Knight of the Slender Sword. Because a theatre troupe, which visited several places inside Orsongrande such as the royal capital, performed the highly popular play 『Knight of the Slender Sword』 for a prolonged time in Rhone for little money, the refugee’s enthusiasm knew no bounds.

  “… To even call a theatre troupe, I believe that to actually be over the top.”

  “If you got any complaints, take them up to the expressionless bastard in Fokalore.”

  The temporary town hall set up in Rhone. In one of its rooms Doelgar and Miyukare continued a thorny dispute without taking their eyes off the documents and without raising their voices.

  This is a daily occurrence in the civil official’s room in Fokalore. Even Brokra and at times Paryu will grumble about something while continuing their work. As it’s a spectacle that can be observed especially well when their workload reaches a peak, Paryu, who was currently working in the same room together with those two, didn’t pay any heed to their quarrel.

  By the way, since Caim is the type to do his work silently and moreover doesn’t care about the way others work, he doesn’t participate in the quarrelling and speaking to himself nor does he caution others about it.

  “In the first place, why do I have to be sent to the border? It would have been probably fine if we had left it to each of the commanding officers.”

  “If you say that, it applies to me as well. Even
in regards to picking out craftsmen and apprentices, it would probably finish quickly if each of the trade guilds sent someone over.”

  In reality, for the soldiers who had received only training related to combat, it’s difficult to negotiate with Orsongrande, no matter whether they obtained a commanding officer rank, and they also hold no right to make any decisions. Even in regards to trade; Doelgar is carrying out the regulation of the guilds. Because the scramble for personnel is a daily struggle, this is a task that has to be done by personnel who holds the power of the state.

  Though both of them understand that, they keep complaining about it, but this time Paryu, who was in the same room, was unable to ignore it.

  “… Doelgar-san, Miyukare-san, are you telling me to handle the documents here all by myself…?” (Paryu)

  “Uh…”

  Once the two, who had complained until now, turn their looks at Paryu, they see her exhausted expression with only her eyes gleaming with a glare.

  She’s the one in charge of the family register. If the number of people in the territory increases, it becomes inevitable for additional work to visit her. Performing an investigation of all the people who crossed the border, and deciding on an appropriate handling for them after confirming all kinds of information is part of her post. As a matter of fact, the majority of staff members, who were made to follow those three, are her subordinates, but even then they are the busiest as well.

  They had even lost the time to complain. At the moment she was fed up with the problem of several bundles of documents being brought in every 10 minutes, she apparently got mad at her two seniors who started to talk about abandoning their work.

  “No, this is just a joke to vent a bit. Each of us is busy. That’s why we need at least this much freedom of mind, right?” (Doelgar)

  “I-I didn’t particularly plan to really abandon my work? I just tried to complain a bit since I have to always associate with filthy men.” (Miyukare)

  In front of the two who were trying to justify their conduct in panic, Paryu swapped an armful of document bundles from the pile of documents lying on her desk towards them.