Seirei Gensouki ~Konna Sekai de Deaeta Kimi ni~ (WN) - Chapter 43

Chapter 43 : The Past of His Parent

Currently, in the hall of Yuba house, four person gathered in one place.
In that place is Rio, Yuba,Gouki, and Kayoko.
The people who’s coming along with Kayoko and Gouki is currently become their watchguard to prevent anyone from hearing their conversation.

「We’re truly apologizing for suddenly borrowing your time when Rio-sama is still busy」

Gouki expressing his courtesy in the most polite manner along with somehow awe-inspiring kneel.
Kayoko on his side was also trying to completely hide her apologizing expression from her face.

「Uhmm, I’ve yet to understand the core of the story though …… 」

In regard to being unable to fully understand the flow of their story, Rio indirectly expressing his wishes for more explanation to their circumtances.

「In that regard, Goiki-dono is getting an approval to tell the story of Rio parent」

To the confused Rio, Yuba told him the most simple explanation.

「The story of, my parent？ 」

Even if he know that this is his long awaited time, he’s not agitated and asking with calm tone.
Someone who’s obviously coming from one of the top most of the social ladder, and from the fact that he’s showing his respect to RIo, maybe his circumtances was even more complex than what he thought.

「First is, let me see…. Today we’re calling upon Rio-sama to explain that circumtances」

Gouki told him that fact with respectful tone.
Though there’s low propability of badly handling it even Rio know that fact from today situation, it’s not something to be heard without prior preparation.

「anyway, we should sit first right？」

Rio’s turning toward them and advising them to sit first before hearing their story.
Though he really want them to refraining themself from showing such courtesy, since the current situation didn’t give him the chance to wish, he decided to prioritizing in hearing their story.

「Excuse me」

Gouki excuse himself and sitting slowly followed by Kayoko.

「Well then, should I hear the story now right?」
「Understood」

Replying with consent to Rio’s word, Gouki’s taking a short breath and showing a somewhat melancholic expression.

「That’s right …….. This something that happened around 20 years ago. First let’s start with the story about Zen」

Zen, Rio father was a soldier who served Karasuki kingdom.
At that time, Karasuki kingdom is entering a tense relationship with Rokuren kingdom who’s already antagonism with them since long time ago, resulted in repeated skirmish between those two kingdom.
The whole kingdom is being burdened by heavy tax, it also made the livinghood in Yuba village become harder.

「Nevertheless, Zen who’s the second son volunteering himself to reduce the number of mouth to feed. One day, by some chance he’s stumbled in soldier recruitment」

When recalling those times, somehow Yuba’s showing a melancholic expression and muttering in a low voice.
Zen who’s a Spirit Arts genius and added with his gifted physical constitution, was even gifted with talent for martial arts.
Different from Strahl region where the Spirit Arts dissapearing due to the introduction of magic, though they’re very small in number the people of Yagumo region is still using the Spirit Arts.
That kind of people is extremely valuable for war.
For Karasuki kingdom who’s in the state of Quasi-war, it didn’t take that much time for a soldier called Zen to distinguish himself.
Despite just a skirmish, he decapitated the enemies head one by one, when his troops facing a crisis he volunteered himself to be left with rear unit, he always returning alive no matter how hopeless the situation.
To give a praise to that achievement, Zen is rewarded with medal from the kingdom and being hailed as the heroof the kingdom.

「Since that time, Zen became a samurai who’s served the kingdom. Though the person who’ll become the new samurai will have a sparring match with his senior as a custom, that guy ability is a real deal」

Gouki was the one that appointed to test Zen ability with a match.
At that time, Gouki was charged with the job of being protector of the royalty, despite his youth he was the most prominent master of the kindom since that time.
Though his movement was self-taught, Zen ability was rivaling Gouki.
Though the result is Gouki victory by narrow margin, If Zen learning formal sword arts, Gouki knew that the one who’ll be lost might be himself.

「Dear me, though it was called a sparring match, it’s not that often I’m facing a battle that rousing my soul as much as that, that’s how much battle it is」

Gouki said that with a deep tone as if being deeply moved when he’s recalling that time.
Kayoko is smiling lightly in seeing the state of her husband.
Zen who’s proofing his ability with that match along with Gouki strong recommendation, entering the post along with Gouki and became the protector of royalty.

「And that royalty was, Ayame-sama」 [TL : SURPRISEEEE!!!!]
「……!!!」

When he heard that his mother is the kingdom royalty, Rio showing a clearly surprised expression.
Though he already guessed that his parent is the people of somewhat high pedigree, the word “Royalty” was never in his prediction.
Seeing Rio reaction, Gouki and Kayoko unable to hold their laugh.

Though Ayame position in the throne inheritance isn’t that high, she was a widely famous woman in the neighborhood kingdom due to her beauty.
Zen, who’s the rising star at that time was being appointed to become her escort.
Though there wasn’t any problem due to his military exploit, there’s some point he’s lacking like family standing and education, at first many people envying him for those reason.

「However, in addition being charged with the protection of Ayame-sama was this Gouki and Kayoko. My wife is coming from a prominent family lineage even amongst the senior samurai family, Though Kayoko family is also a little special, it’s still an influential one 」

With those two sticking to Zen, there’s not that much problem as Zen is doing his best with his duty to protect Ayame.
In addition, Zen and Ayame relationship is also a favourable one, Zen taught many things regarding the outside world to Ayame who’s ignorant about it.
Just like Gouki and Kayoko, id didn’t take that long for them to be attracted to each other as a man and woman.
Even from the outsider perspectives, it’s easy to seeing through their feeling for each other.
Having interested to Zen, sometimes they’re also travelling incognito to staying in this village, Zen hometown.
But, Despite hailed as hero[eiyuu], Zen is warrior rising from a commoner[upstart], and Ayame is a royalty.
The difference of social status between them is too big, Zen was being pressured by that thought.

「At that time, Rokuren kingdom sending a cease-fire proposal to our kingdom」

the cease-fire was happening so many times during our long time of war.
Though the Rokuren kingdom is the one always broke it first, even Karasuki kingdom didn’t wish to prolonging the war from the point of view of national treasury, thus we always accepting the cease-fire.
The cease-fire is being celebrated, also to let the kingdom citizen to vent their dissatisfaction, a grand ceremony was held in the royal capital of Karasuki kingdom.
The prince of Rokuren also came as ambassador for entering the cease-fire.
The cease-fire agreement also passing nicely, later the prince was supposed to come back to his home country without any incident.

But, the evening of that day, someone kidnapped Ayame.
The culprit was the assistant of Rokuren kingdom prince who’s belonging to the dark side that was coming to made the conclusion of the cease-fire agreement.
Zen who’s protecting Ayame from the back splendidly managed to capture that person.
Though some circumtances is being omitted, being trained to commit suicide with unknown ability, that person is dead.

The next day, while the Karasuki kingdom side asked for explanation of this matter, Rokuren kingdom prince was angry with reason that his assistant is brutaly murdered.
Though they’re the one who’s trying to kidnapping, because the culprit is dead, Karasuki kingdom side decided to treat this matter with caution.
But, Rokuren kingdom prince won’t give any shit about it, and making fuss of him going all the way to the enemy kingdom only to be betrayed like this.
The negotiation of both kingdom is going into drain, just like that the situation almost forced the breaking of cease-fire agreement.

「In that situation, the Rokuren kingdom prince made another point to fix the cease-fire agreement」

Gouki continuing his story with tone as if he’s chewing his anger.

「The execution of Zen who’s personally killed his assistant, and demand for Ayame」

The fact is that was truly a shameless demand.
Though He didn’t know how to describe the situation but from Gouki tone, but there’s some rumor saying that the prince of Rokuren kingdom was a distasteful man whose hobby is philandering on woman with his sadism.
If they just let go of Ayame like that it’s easy to imagine what kind of treatment she’ll get.
In the first place the cease-fire agreement came from Rokuren kingdom, maybe their aim was Ayame all along.
They cannot help but distrust Rokuren side.

But, sometimes even that kind of shameless demand can’t be avoided for diplomacy.
With superb preparation, Rokuren kingdom prince using his own vassal to distorting the summarized story regarding the truth about that incident in the capital.
Agitating an unrest to the citizen regarding the news about the long awaited cease-fire agreement is on the verge of breaking, it said that they’re manipulating the public opinion to favoring the conclusion of cease-fire agreement. [TL :how very like of that accursed current president of Indonesia and his bosses, who sold their own country]
The citizen dissatisfaction keep piling-up, just like that in that situation Ayame was send to Rokuren kingdom.
And, in the kingdom itself, the number of the noble who’s favouring the war isn’t few in number either.
Though they can held their dissatisfaction with the royalty, that was only on the surface.
Though if the truth of the incident is beng told to the citizen might lit their wrath, in that case they can’t escape from the fate of war just for the sake of smearing mud on Rokuren kingdom honour.
Though Rokuren kingdom action is breaking the international law from one point, by making the first strike, Karasuki kingdom facing against disadvantage position.

But, for Karasuki kingdom who’s no longer trusting Rokuren kingdom.
While it might be true that they’re temporarily accepting Rokuren kingdom demand for the sake of fulfilling the condition for cease-fire, there’s many doubt regarding it.
They cannot just swallowing Rokuren kingdom demand.
On the other hand, it might affecting the cease-fire agreement if they’re announcing the truth of the incident and will cause outbreak of many conflict which will drive the their war-front into the corner.
They’be forced to enter the state of war while pinning the dissatisfaction from portion of noble and citizen, furthermore the Karasuki kingdom have to knead an excellent plan to triumph over this situation.

「Thus his majesty pretending to accept those demand on the public, and gave a secret order for Zen and Ayame-sama to flee」

Though they can bid their time temporarily with Rokuren kingdom and the noble opposition.
One man and the king carrying out a secret operation during that time.
WIth a scale which can’t be sniffed out by Rokuren kingdom and the opposition noble of domestic, picking the elite amongst elite of samurai organization fighter to dispatch them without being found by Rokuren kingdom.

「The samurai who’s dissatisfied with Rokuren kingdom were gathering in that operation, including me, the moral of the samurai who’s participied to that operation was soaring through the heaven」

Soon after that, Zen fleed while taking along Ayame.
Karasuki kingdom announcing that news.
Of course Rokuren kingdom indignation was not a joke.
Though many complaint for the one who’s opposing war was directed to Ayame and Zen, thanks to that they succesfully directing the mood to start a war with the enemy kingdom.
Later, the prince of Rokuren kingdom returned to his kingdom due to anger, which become the trigger to the beginning of the war.

Karasuki kingdom gathered large army as a diversion, attracting the attention so that the secret unit could go to Rokuren kingdom.
Of course they have no choice but to secretly moving in the middle of war to ambush Rokuren kingdom, thus large army being dispatched in where they’ll start their operation.
Thus Rokuren kingdom troops in national border has a glaring contest with Karasuki kingdom troops.
Without knowing that the elite troops of Karasuki kingdom samurai already infiltrating in their kingdom one go.

The samurai elite troops was responsible to deliver a one sidedly grevious damage to Rokuren kingdom.
Though the rear side of Rokuren kingdom also moving quickly, they’re unable to leave the battlefield by disregarding the enemies before them.
When the elite troops is quickly retreating before they’re counter attacked, finally Karasuki kingdom main force began their attack to Rokuren kingdom troops.
Though Rokuren kingdom main troops didn’t have any choice but to face it, the great disturbance happened in the middle of battle caused by the few elite samurai came from behind easily taken the head of their general.
Rokuren kingdom prince is also mixed amongst the captured prisoner during this campaign.
Undoubtly that was the greatest historical victory of Karasuki kingdom.

「Rokuren kingdom once again frantically proposing a cease-fire agreement」

Gouki showing a really happy expression when he told Rio about the event during that time.
ROkuren kingdom side admitted that they’re fully responsible for causing the war, and the prince who’s the mastermind behind that event is executed in front of the citizen by Karasuki kingdom, furthermore they must pay large amount of money to compensate the damage caused by war .
The citizen dissatisfaction lessened due to the compensation from the kingdom.
Rokuren kingdom national power is greatly declined, and now they become the vassal state of Karasuki kingdom, that situation isn’t something that come with war.

It was seen as huge success for the king who’s passing the final judgement by seeing the result.
But, though they’ve enough chance for victory, it’s a fact that he’s deceiving his own citizen which will turn into an unfavourable deadlock once they made a single mistake.
That’s why it’s become unavoidable for him to explain the true reason for the outbreak of this war it become necessary to deal with the truth behind the escape of Zen and Ayame for their own benefit and put a false charge on them.
They even put them in the wanted list in the neighbouring kingdom.
Thanks to that they lost their place and forced to fleed all the way till Strahl region.
At that time, it was completely obvious even by the king that Ayame and Zen is fallen in love with each other.
But, the high wall called social position won’t let those two to become a couple.
Maybe because she’s almost turned into a woman who’ll become the plaything of that evil prince of the enemy kingdom, and her unwillingness even if it means bridging the relationship between the two kingdom, she entrusted her everything to Zen even if that’s mean that she must life a live of fugitive and always coming along with great danger during their journey to far away place.
In the first place, that was the king decision.

The action of Ayame and Zen seen as treason against their own kingdom.
To add one thing after another, when it comes to Zen, his crime is desertion and kidnapping the royalty.
Their secret is guarded carefully as the top secret of Karasuki kingdom, the one who knew that truth is only Yuba who’s Zen mother, and part of kingdom upper echelon.
And Yuba’s unable to tell Rio about his parent due toking order.

「We’re always regretting the fact that we’re unable to do anything to help Ayame-sama 」

Gouki and Kayoko showing a sad expression.
At that time, inside Kayoko belly dwelling the life of Hayate, Gouki son.
Politically, the desertion is treated as “Due to Zen recklessness” regarding his duty to protect Ayame while, Gouki and Kayako remained in Karasuki kingdom.

「But, few days ago, a letter from Yuba-dono arrived. The content said that Ayame-sama and Zen son was staying in her village」

It might be referring to other person but, he say that Yuba is his grandmother.
Though he didn’t have anything as evidence to identify whether Rio’s the real deal or a fake one, the possibility that Yuba made a mistake in her judgement was low.
Thus, Gouki immediately reporting about that letter to the king, seeking for further instruction.
And then, they’re to judge with their own eyes and if they’re convinced that Rio is Zen and Ayame son, they’re ordered to bring Rio to royal capital after telling him his parent past.
Gouki who’s receiving that order carefully picking his most trusted subordinate, then immediately came to this village in hurry.

「Thus I overcomed by emotion to the point that I offered my bow when I’m looking at Rio-sama contenance. I’ve no doubt that you’re Ayame-sama son*」 [TL : Poor Zen]

Even Rio have no choice but being a little hasty.
That just how much he’s similiar to Ayame.
Today he can’t help but recalling the face of his dead mother.

「Rio-sama, his majesty wishes to meet you. How’s that, will you’ve no problem to coming along with me ? 」

Gouki told him that as if urgin him with sincere tone.

「Meeting with his majesty ……」

For the time being, that person is Rio grandfather.
Though he didn’t want to, he’s unable to deny this request in this kind of situation.
It seems they won’t leave either.
The safety is guaranteed by looking at Gouki personality so far.

「Understood.」

Rio gave his agreement to that wish despite smiling wryly due to the most unexpected development.
The expression of Gouki’s instantly turned into a joyful one.

「Thank you very much！ Now, I’ll explain the circumtances to the people in this place. This people ability is real, me and his majesty guarantee that they’re trusted people of dark side. They’ll become our convoy in the journey till we reach the royal capital」

After saying that, Gouki’s subordinate kneeling one again before Rio to show their loyalty.