Chapter 15
“Zionis has joined our faction.”
“…Oh, good news.”
It was a good thing.
Second Prince Secundus Debius let out a hearty laugh.
His conversation partner was a man of small stature.
A gloomy air hung heavy around his dark eyes.
“…Does he seem trustworthy?”
“Of course not!”
Secundus laughed heartily.
To trust was to expect.
The self-serving expectation that the other party would do this much, or would not do that, was the essence of trust.
Therefore, Secundus did not trust Zionis at all.
“I trust nothing but my own body and I have no intention of doing so. The same goes for you.”
“That's a relief……”
The small man snickered.
He too moved on the same side as Secundus, but he had not the slightest intention of meeting any expectations.
They looked in different directions.
They might walk together for a while if their paths overlapped, but they would part ways whenever the time came.
“But it will be necessary to grasp the situation to some extent. That brat is our brother, after all. He’s not ordinary.”
Both trust and transactions required information.
It was foolish to discuss trust or transactions without knowing anything.
“Grasp the situation, how……?”
“Do you remember what I said?”
“…Ah, the one you said you found this time.”
“Yes. I’m going to have Zionis accompany us.”
***
The 17th day since the proclamation of the Fiftieth Succession War.
“Pies, the weather is nice, isn't it?”
“Yes. It truly is.”
“Then, pumpkin pie, please.”
“…Yes, sir.”
Pies Roesti set off, pouting his lips.
He seemed depressed at the thought of having to bow his head to the head pastry chef.
But that had nothing to do with me.
Wasn't it a bet he had volunteered for?
‘It was two days ago that I obtained Valziart, and yesterday that brother Secundus visited……’
Many things had happened at once.
Feeling a bit stiff, I stretched.
It had only been a little over two weeks, but I had grown considerably stronger compared to right after the regression.
Having opened ‘Fantasy Finger’ and obtained Mana Armor Valziart.
‘Valziart, a greater gain than I thought. I’m grateful to Sen Sorti.’
Valziart’s soul was in a deep slumber.
What remained were her body and power.
A shadow armor, several times tougher and harder than steel, that moved according to my will.
The freely moving shadow held infinite possibilities, but it required just as much training.
I wanted to take sufficient time to get used to it.
It felt like there was something more than just wrapping my body or changing it into the shape of a blade.
‘He’ll probably contact me in a few days. Until then, let's master how to use Valziart.’
With a relaxed smile, I buried myself in the sofa.
The sound of birds was pleasant.
I really liked this detached palace.
The autumn leaves peeking through the window, the rustling wind, the chirping birds, and the muscular giant approaching through them……. A muscular giant?
“Come out, Zionis-!”
At the booming shout, I shot up.
“Brother Secundus? Why today!?”
It wasn't a mistake.
That muscle man who came and yelled his lungs out since the morning, the Second Prince Secundus Debius.
His short hair, his build that seemed to be three times my size, it was definitely him.
“What do you mean, why? I said I'd be in touch soon.”
“But you just came and went last night!?”
“Hmm?”
Secundus tilted his head.
When he furrowed his brow, his face became so ferocious that even a lion would flee.
Though he himself didn't seem to be aware of it.
“Isn't one day also soon?”
“…Usually not, right?”
“Anyway, stop with the nonsense and come out.”
Come out?
I stared blankly at Secundus.
While doing so, I drank a cup of tea.
Fre Leaf Tea was indeed the best in the morning.
I had no intention of giving up my morning leisure.
“It's difficult for me if you just tell me to come out all of a sudden.”
“Which do you prefer, being dragged out, or coming out yourself?”
“…I get it.”
Grumbling, I put down the teacup.
Thick veins were bulging on Secundus's arms.
He was really planning to drag me out by force.
For now, since we were in the same faction, I had to listen to him.
“I'm out. What's the matter?”
“The location of a Treasure has been identified. The other two don't know yet, but it's a matter of time.”
“Oho.”
It was certainly a serious matter, as the Treasure had to be secured before anyone else.
It was one step towards the throne.
I twisted the corner of my mouth up.
“Where is it?”
“It's quite far. So, let's run!”
“…Run?”
Secundus dashed off in a flash.
Suddenly?
Like this?
The giant who was leading the way turned around and frowned.
“What are you doing, run!”
“Huh? Yes? Uh, uh, uh-?”
I had no choice but to run as well.
I discreetly summoned Valziart to wrap my legs inside my clothes.
But Secundus was ridiculously fast.
Even though it seemed like he was being considerate of me, I couldn't catch up.
“Uh, Your Highness Zionis, where are you…….”
“Sorry, Pies, I’ll eat it next time!”
The face of Pies Roesti, who had worked hard to get the pumpkin pie, turned sullen.
But even that soon grew distant.
Secundus ran.
I followed with all my might.
The muscle giant shouted again.
“Come on, come on, come on, there's no time, Zionis, run!”
“What is this, so sudden-!”
“Gasp, I picked, he-ek, the wrong, Gasp, faction……!”
“Hahaha. You're making a sad joke.”
“I’m serious, he-ek… you know!”
I wiped away the flowing sweat, breathing heavily.
But this damned sweat, it wouldn't stop no matter how much I wiped it.
Even as I tried to somehow regain my breath, which felt like it was about to burst, Secundus’s urging was severe.
“We still have a long way to go, Zionis!”
“People are, gask, staring……!”
“Are they?”
Running through the middle of the city, it was impossible not to draw attention.
Especially if the ones running were two princes.
At the eccentric behavior of the two noble bloodlines, the crowd was gradually gathering.
Secundus nonchalantly waved his hand.
“What are you all staring at!”
“Good luck, Your Highness!”
An apple came flying from the crowd.
Secundus caught it, took a bite, and grinned.
A roar of laughter, wahahaha, burst out.
It seemed this wasn't something that had happened just once or twice.
Secundus ran.
Receiving the cheers and support of the people.
He must have built relationships with the citizens in his own way.
I also ran along.
If I hadn't reinforced my body with Valziart, I would have collapsed long ago.
“Wh-where are we, gasp, going, at least gasp… explain……”
“You'll know when we get there, come on, faster!”
“Uwaaaaaa-!!!”
***
Shion Pollinglight was a hero who had regressed.
He had gone back 19 years in time to his eleven-year-old past, returning to the identity of the Fifth Prince Zionis.
He held seven secrets.
He had obtained Mana Armor Valziart.
And he was currently panting for breath, to rave reviews.
“No, no, I can't go any further!”
It had only been a little over two weeks since the regression!
There had been no time to train my body.
Hero or not, my stamina was only that of an eleven-year-old.
My heart felt like it was going to explode, and sweat flowed like water.
I couldn't run anymore, and I didn't want to run anymore!
“Your stamina is weak, Zionis.”
Even after running all the way from the Imperial Palace, Secundus hadn't broken a single drop of sweat.
Perhaps because he had been eating apples and such on the way, he was rather full of energy.
I glared at my half-brother with resentment.
“For an eleven-year-old, gasp, I think, he-e-ek… it’s average, gasp……”
“Hmm? Were you only that old? You speak so well I thought you were sixteen.”
Secundus burst out laughing.
“Since you probably don't know my age either!”
“…You’re twenty, gasp, three, aren't you.”
“Oh, you knew?”
How embarrassing!
He patted my shoulder and laughed even louder.
It was a stark contrast to me, who was struggling to even breathe.
How much energy did he have?
“Come on, we're here. We're here.”
“How many times have you said we're here, gasp. I'm not, he-ek… falling for it anymore!”
“Hmm. We're really just around the corner.”
Secundus said, as if coaxing me.
His finger pointed to a majestic brown brick building.
A large gate, a bustling crowd, a gray cloud of smoke disappearing into the sky.
I read the large sign.
“…Imperial Railway Authority, Heke-e-e-ek, is this it……?”
“You're on the verge of death. Yes, this is the place.”
“I-I-I’m saved-!”
I collapsed onto the ground.
It was the biggest crisis since my regression.
Forgetting the dignity of a prince and the pride of a hero, I lay flat on my back, gulping down oxygen.
I couldn't bear it otherwise.
Secundus tilted his head.
“Why are you lying down?”
“…Because, we've arrived?”
“What are you talking about?”
Secundus pulled a small piece of paper from his pocket.
The emblem of the Empire was engraved on the navy-blue paper.
My face turned pale.
Don't tell me that's…….
“If you've come to the Railway Authority, you have to ride a train. We don't have much time left. Hurry and run!”
“Uwaaaaaaaak-!!!”
“Come, come, come, don't stop. This is still the general seating! Go to the first-class cabin, the first-class cabin! That's right! Just one more car!”
“Uwaah, uwaaaaah……!”
I staggered through the train like a corpse, running.
Secundus laughed heartily and pushed me along.
If I hadn't wrapped my legs with Valziart and pushed my body with ‘Fantasy Finger’, I would have collapsed from exhaustion long ago.
A few people peeked their heads out from between the cabins.
It was because they were curious about the commotion.
But upon recognizing the muscular giant as the Second Prince, they offered a polite greeting and hastily withdrew their interest.
It was better for ordinary people not to get involved with the imperial family.
Especially during the Succession War.
“Here it is. You can rest now!”
“Gasp... choke... wheeeze...!”
I fell onto the sofa as if being sucked in.
I couldn't even remember the last time I had been this exhausted.
It must have been over 10 years ago.
As I was catching my breath, I became thirsty.
Seeing my parched lips, Secundus held out a small bottle.
“It's water. Have some……”
“Hieeek (Thank you)!”
The small bottle seemed to be an artifact.
The water was as cold as ice.
The bottle was emptied in an instant.
Watching his younger brother gulping it down, Secundus stroked his head as if he were cute.
“Still, for an eleven-year-old, you have good stamina. How about it? From now on, let's do morning exercises together……”
“…I respectfully decline!”
“What a shame!”
His hearty laugh was loud.
Loud enough that it could probably be heard in the next cabin.
“It's noisy……”
A voice interjected.
“…Causing a disturbance in a train used by the people of the capital……”
“Oh. You were here too!”
“…You're the one who called me, brother Secundus……”
Only then did I realize.
I was so exhausted I hadn't noticed, but there was another man in this first-class cabin besides us.
A small stature, a shaded face, he too was a half-brother.
One of the eight siblings with the right to succeed to the throne.
“You're as diligent as ever, Kateka!”
Kateka Keshulei, the Third Prince.
***
The Fiftieth Succession War.
The participants were the eight princes and princesses.
Among them, the three most outstanding.
Ferbias, Leniar, Secundus.
Even among their three factions, a hierarchy existed.
Ferbias was first, Leniar was next, and Secundus was last.
The Second Prince had the support of the military, but that was not enough.
Ferbias, the First Prince.
The possessor of the strongest legitimacy.
In the west, he would surely have been called the crown prince.
Leniar, the First Princess.
A woman with the Empire's largest vassal state, the Duchy of Volmark, at her back.
Her disposition and caliber were no less than Ferbias's.
If not for being a woman, she might have already surpassed Ferbias.
Secundus, the Second Prince, was always a concern.
If he had been born in the right era, he could have easily seized the throne, but to be in an era like this!
However, he was a man who sought solutions rather than blaming his situation.
And the solution he found was to make his other siblings his allies.
The Second Prince, Secundus Debius.
The Third Prince, Kateka Keshulei.
The Fifth Prince, Zionis.
Though it was uncertain if there was any trust.
For now, three princes in one faction.
“First time meeting, right? Greet each other.”
Secundus gestured.
I was about to unconsciously extend my hand but turned back with a dumbfounded expression.
Kateka also shook his head as if in disbelief.
“…No. It's not our first time meeting. We already know each other.”
“…Even so, we're brothers……”
Kateka and I felt a mutual understanding.
It was the weariness they felt towards Secundus, that man who was three heads taller than others.
Was it because his body was so strong?
He had a tendency to speak first and think later.
And he often laughed heartily.
“Hmm. Isn't this really the first time you're seeing each other like this!”
Secundus’s gaze sharpened.
He was rebuking his younger brothers as if telling them to answer quickly.
In the end, both Kateka and I had no choice but to open our mouths.
“It's a pleasure to meet you, brother Kateka. I'm regretting that I seem to have picked the wrong faction.”
“…I was thinking the same thing, Zionis……. It's nice to meet you……”
The muscular giant strode over and hugged his two half-brothers.
“Don't say things you don't mean. Remember, the three of us are on the same side!”
“……”
“……”
Silence.
Neither I nor Kateka hid our displeased expressions.
The Succession War, a contest where siblings killed each other over the Imperial Throne.
To be told to strengthen brotherly bonds was bound to be awkward.
“Answer!”
“…Let's just say that's the case.”
“I’m tired……”