01x09 - Contrary to Wishes

[bunniefuu]

ORIGINAL STORY BY DOJYOMARU

Your Majesty? This is Juna Doma.

Juna?

-Oh, come in.

-Excuse me.

I heard from Princess Liscia.

You cannot sleep these days?

My body feels tired,

but so many thoughts are running through

my head, and I can't fall asleep.

Lie down.

Just lie down.

It's okay to show weakness.

I am just another person

who is on your side.

I understand that you don't want to appear

pathetic in front of the princess.

I'm sure that feeling is what

moves you to be strong.

But when that becomes tiring,

you can call me.

It's okay.

If the princess brings out your strength,

I will be the one who hides your weakness.

Sleep for today

Sleep until tomorrow

You can go on walking once you wake up

Your fatigue…

CARMINE DUCHY, RANDEL

Isn't now our chance,

while the people aren't

completely siding with Souma?

Castor, are you still thinking of

defying the king?

Of course!

I don't care if he's a hero.

You were also ignoring the king's request

to cooperate because you didn't like him!

My utmost priority

is the safety of Lagoon City.

Our neighboring countries are

looking for opportunities right now.

It is foolish to fight amongst ourselves.

You mean the Principality of Amidonia?

"If you want to overthrow the false king,

we are ready to send reinforcements."

That's the message they sent me.

I'm sure they sent one

to the king as well.

They want us to take each other out.

So, what are you thinking?

What are you talking about?

Why would someone with as much

patriotism and loyalty as you

take hostile action against the new king?

Whether he's a false king or not,

his reign has brought stability.

Why would you go out of your way

to rock the boat?

I came to the conclusion that

he cannot rule this country.

-That is all.

-Why is that?

He has overcome various

national crises with his skills.

Is that not enough for you?

That king casts aside many things

without hesitation!

That king was summoned from another world.

That is why he has no hesitation

in casting things aside.

If he deems it inefficient,

he will cast aside

history, customs, soldiers,

and even retainers. Am I wrong?

That's…

He has cast aside retainers

who have served

the country for many years.

Those who have a grudge against the king

will be useful pawns for overthrowing him.

Are you eyeing the throne now?

Knowing Duke Carmine,

he wouldn't usurp the throne.

Of course, after I remove King Souma,

King Albert will reclaim the throne

and we will support him.

Castor,

just in case anything happens,

cut ties with Accela, Carla, and Carl.

You think I'm going to lose to that punk?

Just to be safe.

You must be prepared to do that

if you're going up against the king.

Carla!

Grandmother!

If Father is committed to fighting,

-I will fight too.

-You will not.

You are too young to become a rebel.

He dethroned King Albert

and plans to violate my friend, Liscia.

I cannot forgive him.

You've got it wrong.

-King Souma--

-Do not worry!

I, Carla, am a daughter

of the Vargas family.

I will succeed!

PRINCIPALITY OF AMIDONIA CAPITAL, VAN

What is it, Father?

It's from Georg Carmine.

He is finally taking a stand.

That took a long time.

He has aged.

If this was back when he was his sharpest,

he would never have

accepted our invitation.

That is true.

We will move as soon as they declare w*r.

We will send reinforcements

to the kingdom.

I see.

And to which side will we send them?

Which side, you ask?

King Souma will get troops

to fight the duchies

and the three duchies will get troops

to fight the new king.

Oh Father, how evil of you.

My goodness…

What am I going to do with

my father and idiot brother?

Do they want to weaken Amidonia

from its already poor state?

Lady Roroa, you mustn't say that out loud.

The Elfrieden Kingdom has it so good.

Their tax revenue and working capital must

be so big with their large population.

Jeez!

I'm so jealous of our neighbor's wallet.

Wallet?

As you can see in the report,

we can expect a big harvest this autumn.

With this,

it's safe to say that we have

solved our food issues.

That's good news.

Now we can move onto the next step

without worry.

So…

we have to do it, huh?

Do you not want to?

Not really.

I know it's necessary but…

Yes, this is necessary.

The political philosopher Machiavelli

wrote this in The Prince:

"When a prince resorts to cruel acts,

his position is put

at risk even in times of peace.

However, certain princes

are as cruel as can be and yet

do not experience uprisings

or enemy attacks

and lead a peaceful life.

The difference between the two

is based on whether

the prince used cruelty well or poorly."

For a prince, cruelty can be

like an heirloom sword

that can cut through everything.

But if you are consumed

by its addictiveness

it can be a cursed sword

that destroys you.

I told you before

that I consider your plan

as one of these "cruelties."

Yes.

And you told me that if we are to do it,

it must be done swiftly.

Kazuya,

make your own family.

And protect your family no matter what.

From this moment,

we will commence "subjugation."

UNION OF EASTERN NATIONS

CASTOR VARGAS

PRINCIPALITY OF AMIDONIA CAPITAL, VAN

The time has come!

Assemble your troops.

As soon as Georg starts his rebellion,

we will begin advancing

into Elfrieden territory.

We will aim for their breadbasket

in the southwest.

The land of our ancestors

which was stolen 50 years ago.

-It's time to take it back!

-Please wait, Your Highness!

Colbert…

Pardon me, Your Highness.

But please rethink

the invasion of Elfrieden.

If we go to w*r now,

the people will starve.

You interior ministers

always say the same things.

"Focus on internal affairs."

"Now is not the time."

And look what's happened!

After Elfrieden Kingdom

crowned their new king,

they have become more powerful!

Please listen to me.

If we invade Elfrieden,

we will be condemned by other nations.

We have signed

the Declaration of Mankind's Common Front

Against the Demon Race.

The Mankind Declaration, huh?

The Gran Chaos Empire's

Declaration of Mankind's

Common Front Against the Demon Race,

also known as the Mankind Declaration.

The empire holding the largest territory

and largest military power

in the continent

made this declaration

and international treaty

for mankind to put

a pause on their conflicts

in light of the expansion

of the Demon Lord's Domain,

so mankind can unite

and cooperate to stop the further

invasion of monsters and demons.

The general idea is summarized

into these three clauses…

One of those clauses states

that there shall be no changes

to national borders

due to armed conflict between mankind.

If we invade Elfrieden,

the empire may step in.

Please, Your Highness.

Colbert, that shouldn't be an issue.

That is because Elfrieden

did not sign the Mankind Declaration.

Julius…

Your Highness, that's just an excuse.

In diplomacy,

the treaties you sign take priority.

-However--

-Enough!

As of now,

Colbert is relieved of his post

as the finance minister.

Hello, Colbert!

Why do you look so gloomy?

Princess Roroa…

Your face…

I bet you warned my father.

Please don't worry about me.

Really? Okay, then go get ready.

Um… Princess Roroa,

what are you planning to do?

Of course,

we're going into hiding together.

Sebastian is getting things ready for us.

Just follow me for now.

What is it, Souma?

I'm meeting with the three dukes.

Before that,

there is something I want you to know.

This is the first time

we meet face-to-face.

I am

the interim monarch who was entrusted with

the throne by the previous king, Albert.

My name is Souma Kazuya.

I am Castor Vargas,

the commander of the Air Force.

It is a pleasure to meet you,

Your Majesty.

I am Excel Walter.

I am Georg Carmine,

the commander of the Army.

Well then,

I will issue the three duchies

an ultimatum.

If you are going to continue

ignoring my orders,

I will have no choice but to

recognize you as rebels.

I want to hear your thoughts.

May I ask you something, Your Majesty?

What is it?

What are you planning to do

with the three duchies?

If you obey me,

I don't plan on meddling with

the duchies themselves.

Then what about our armies?

They will join the Forbidden Army

to make up a new united army.

With that,

privileges given to the three duchies for

the upkeep of the armies will be revoked.

As I thought…

I hope you understand

what you are about to do.

If a tyrant begins to rule as king

and makes policies

that favor his own race,

the other races may face oppression.

In order to prevent that,

our predecessors put into place

the three duchies' armies.

We, the three duchies,

support and monitor the royal family

so that in an emergency,

we can remove the tyrant.

But you're saying you want to

break this system?

That may have worked in times of peace.

But the world is unstable right now.

The Principality of Amidonia

is out to get revenge on us.

The Republic of Turgis,

who is trying to expand northward,

is looking for opportunities

to take our land.

The Nine-Headed Dragon Archipelago Union

is constantly fighting with us

over fishing rights.

In this w*r-torn era, a military with

multiple chains of command is useless.

Now is the time for

centralization of power.

What if that center becomes corrupt?

If that happens, you can take my life.

There is one more thing I'd like to ask.

I hear that you are constructing

a new bay city.

When that city is complete,

what will happen to Lagoon City?

The new city is planned to become

a port of trade and tourist spot.

So Lagoon City will continue

serving as a naval port.

I am relieved to hear that.

As of now,

I, Excel Walter, along with

the Elfrieden Navy

are under the king's command.

We will obey your orders.

I appreciate your decision.

Please continue to serve this country.

Yes, Your Majesty.

Duke Vargas,

I ask that you also cooperate with me

for this country.

Unfortunately, I cannot do that.

From the reign of the king

before the previous king,

I have protected this country.

So, why would King Albert

abdicate the throne to you

without discussing it with

the three duchies first?

Well…

I'd like to ask the same thing.

Princess Liscia, do you know anything?

I'm sorry.

Father said, "If I take action,

it may lead to groundless suspicions.

Souma is the king already."

That's all he told me.

I see…

I cannot accept you as the king after all.

Duke Vargas!

I will be siding with Duke Carmine.

That is your decision?

Yes.

However, this is my personal decision.

Duke Carmine will be joined

by only 100 of my Red Dragon City knights.

I will not draft

the rest of the Air Force.

They will remain neutral.

I see.

Duke Vargas took into consideration

the possibility of his defeat?

I can't believe it.

Well then, Georg Carmine,

commander of the Army.

I will not ask you

whether you will obey me or not.

The moment you took in

those nobles guilty of corruption,

you made it clear

that you would not obey me.

That's why I want to ask you one thing.

What spurred you to go this far?

My pride as a warrior.

I am over 55 years old.

My life was just going to

decline from here.

But the greatest opportunity

was given to me.

I will decide the fate

of Elfrieden with my own wit.

You…

are an utter fool!

Indeed.

You cannot be a warrior

unless you are an utter fool.

You will be a witness to my way of life.

You mean, your way of death.

It is the same thing.

Whoever wants to live will die

but whoever wants to die will live.

That is the essence of a warrior.

Then I will just step over the old tree.

It may be decaying,

but it is a large tree with deep roots.

I am prepared.

Georg Carmine and Castor Vargas,

in starting this w*r,

I have just one proposal.

I doubt that you wish for

this w*r to drag on and on

and involve innocent people.

And so I'd like to make a rule

where once you're k*lled

or captured your army

is immediately given to your opponent.

Fine.

If I am defeated,

take care of my remaining army.

Well then, I will be leaving now.

Wait!

Princess Liscia…

Duke Carmine…

This is my resolve.

I will stand by Souma.

Your resolve is loud and clear.

I'm sorry.

I couldn't convince Castor.

It can't be helped.

He decided for himself.

Duchess Walter, is she there?

Yes. She is here.

You called for me, Your Majesty?

Thank you, Juna.

Because you were a liaison,

we don't have to fight

with Duchess Walter.

I was only following orders.

I apologize for sending someone

to test your competence as the king,

even if that was my own granddaughter.

It's fine.

Thanks to that, I got you to side with me.

Souma.

We are on your side.