Chapter Text

Prologue

Regular Meeting

「定例会議」

(Teirei Kaigi)

Day 27 Month 3; 11:17 Lorida Domestic Standard Time

Republic Hall, Capital Adarones

The extremely subdued lighting only served to emphasize the depth and solemn grandeur of the hall.

Five tiers had been opened into one vast chamber, an enormous auditorium where, depending on one’s seat, it was impossible even to make out the figure standing on the podium. As far as the eye could see, it was filled with an audience. Silhouettes entering from outside were swallowed by the crowd; the mass of listeners increased minute by minute, yet never diminished.

Looking more closely, one would have noticed that a group seated directly below the podium were young people clad in brilliant red-based military uniforms. Each of them still carried the fresh traces of boyhood and girlhood, so much so that it seemed almost unbelievable they were about to enter military service. And yet their eyes, both earnest and pure, silently proclaiming their loyalty, had already been fixed upon the speech from the podium for nearly ten minutes.

On that podium…

“—If we are to wage war, then we must devote ourselves thoroughly to justice. Everything we do in war must be shown to the world as just and pure. For this is an important as winning the war itself; it bears directly upon the honor of you soldiers in the National Defense Forces, and indeed upon the future of the Republic.”

Though the words surely carried heavy meaning, the speaker’s tone was light and fluent enough that it scarcely felt so. Some among the audience found themselves reminded of the oracle of Lida, the goddess from ancient myth said to protect the Republic. And the speaker was no less beautiful than the goddess they believed in.

She was… tall. Upon her pure white ceremonial hat was a red feather ornament signifying widowhood. Her long black hair adorned her pale cheeks with its richness and sheen. Beneath long eyelashes, large green eyes that spoke of a strong will held a clear springlike light even in the dim hall, gleaming as though set with emeralds. Her well-shaped, slender lips projected a firm, pleasing voice that rang throughout the chamber, supported by rhetoric backed with overwhelming learning, far beyond what one might expect from her serene appearance.

“—Nagatlaza… Nodocor… Nasarim’kur… Each of them oppressed their local peoples, suppressed freedom, and harbored clear intentions of attacking our nation. Our Republic—and our beloved National Defense Forces—fought these savage enemies to protect justice and freedom in the world, and achieved great victories. Yet our great undertaking did not end there. We liberated the people from these tyrannical and incompetent governments, and brought them freedom and prosperous lives under the name of Lorida. From this moment onward, as officers of the National Defense Forces, you must take pride in belonging to this organization with its glorious history. At the same time, as members of the Defense Forces, you must contribute to bringing great history to the Republic and to this new world. Thirty years have passed since that fateful moment… The true meaning of why we were guided into this world is eloquently revealed in the great achievements we have accomplished thus far.”

Having said that much, she paused and looked around. Even the sudden flashes that occasionally flared among the silent figures, and the loneliness that often besets one standing alone before a crowd, failed to shake the green intensity of her gaze in the slightest. Instead, an overwhelming confidence, grounded in both experience and natural talent, filled every aspect of her bearing.

“—We must not only carry out justice in reality; we must also, by every possible means, turn our enemies thoroughly into devils. If possible, it is desirable to complete these preparations before we even enter a state of war with them. For that purpose, we must deceive those around us completely. We must deceive the enemy. We must defame the enemy. We must reduce the number of those who support them—or better yet, draw those supporters over to our side. Few are as weak, or as prone to foolish acts, as a person betrayed by a friend. Once such an enemy has been created, another advantage comes with it. It gives our people an even stronger sense of mission, excitement, and unity in realizing justice—”

That day marked the memorable departure of the 187th Class of the Republic of Lorida’s National Defense Forces Officer Academy. For the officer candidates, averaging around 20 years of age, the four years of instruction and discipline that had shaped them would end on that day. From then on, they would disperse to bases and training institutions throughout the homeland, and to garrisons stationed in overseas colonies. For those attending the graduation ceremony at the magnificent Republic Hall facing Founding Plaza in the heart of the capital, Adarones, the commemorative lecture led by Luga La Nadra, renowned as a brilliant woman in both political and social circles, may well have been the finest possible farewell gift.

“—To all of you gathered here today, I ask that you offer heartfelt blessings to the young people assembled here as they set forth on their journey, and that you continue to watch over them with warm yet stern eyes. As I myself once experienced, soldiers are nurtured and tempered by the eyes of others… Finally, with my deepest sincerity, I would like to leave these words as a farewell to the young. May the Merciful Kizlasa grant them His blessings.”

Thunderous applause erupted throughout the hall in response to her closing words. Among the crowd were even those so moved that they rushed toward the podium to shake Nadra’s hand. A female cadet of the officer academy, dressed in formal uniform, approached her carrying a bouquet of flowers.

Her pale, beautiful face softened into a radiant smile.

・・・

There was still time before the graduation reception scheduled for the evening.

Having stepped out of the hall, where the procession of distinguished attendees was still continuing onto the stage, Nadra raised both arms high and stretched. Before her eyes spread a clear blue sky overlooking the open plaza, unobstructed by anything. A moment later, a flock of pigeons that had been occupying a corner of the staircase suddenly took flight into the sky, as though cutting across her line of sight as she looked upward mid-stretch.

The nursemaid attending her frowned.

“Milady… such unrefined behavior again…”

“Relax. No one is watching.”

Nadra smiled with an overflowing smile that rivaled the brightness of the sun. She did not dislike these little moments of mischief that left her strict and upright nursemaid flustered.

Certainly, at the moment only Nadra, her nursemaid Elisa, and a few guards were descending the marble staircase leading down from the white marble hall. Yet in truth, Nadra might well have been among the busiest people who had attended the ceremony. She served as Acting Senator in place of her adoptive parent, her grandfather, who was currently recovering from illness. She was also the chief executive officer of more than a dozen companies belonging to the main branch of the Luga financial conglomerate. She served as an advisor to the Republic Patriotic Enterprise League. Having lost her husband, whom she had married after she relinquished her rank as a cavalry lieutenant colonel of the Republic, to the wars against the other countries, she also held executive positions within both the Republic Veterans’ Association and the Republic War Bereaved Families Association. Beyond all that, Nadra simultaneously held more public office and honorary posts than one could count even using the fingers of both hands and feet.

“Senator…!”

A youthful voice called up to her from the bottom of the stairs.

Standing where the guards had stepped forward to block the way were several students wearing the red-based uniforms of the officer academy. Their collar insignia showed that, in one year’s time, they themselves would be the main figures of the same ceremony. They had probably slipped away during preparations for the event. Looking up at her with a mixture of awe and nervousness, the group of academy students drew Nadra’s curious gaze.

“You stand before a senator. Show some restraint.”

The guard who attempted to block them was stopped by Nadra.

“It’s fine… Let us hear what they want.”

One girl hesitantly spoke.

“We… would like your autograph, Lady Nadra.”

She readily agreed, signing the notebook they held out to her, while not forgetting to offer a gentle admonition.

“It is not very admirable to neglect your duties.”

Even as she said it, her eyes were smiling. She grasped the student’s hand firmly. The students who had been tense at first looked bright and relieved by the time she finished signing for each of them.

“Continue to devote yourselves to your studies and your service.”

“Yes! …Senator.”

Before the reception began, Nadra still had work awaiting her at the Senate.

・・・

From Founding Plaza to the Senate building, even the official vehicles reserved exclusively for senators, exempt from all traffic regulations, required nearly thirty minutes. Certain sections of the major arterial roads crisscrossing Adarones could, depending on the hour, become filled with a surging flood of cars. The area around the Senate in the early afternoon was precisely such a place. The surrounding streets were packed with the convoys of supporters accompanying senators arriving from all over.

Naturally, most of their purpose lay in petitions related to vested interests and in political donations. Those who came were one thing, but Nadra felt no fondness whatsoever for the vulgar opportunists who invited such riffraff into the sacred Senate. Having grown up in a wealthy conglomerate family and therefore knowing little of financial hardship, Nadra found such unsightly displays difficult to understand even now, more than ten years after she had entered high society.

Being stuck in traffic while reviewing unfinished documents or materials for upcoming meetings and parliamentary sessions had become routine. On this day, a regular meeting of the Republic’s Foreign Affairs and Security Committee awaited her in a room of the imposing Senate building. By the time the meeting ended, the reception following the graduation ceremony at one of the city’s luxury hotels would already have begun. But Nadra was busier than usual, and as she would soon be presenting an important motion before the committee, everyone would surely forgive a little lateness with a smile.

Along the way, the car passed through a district of cultural facilities adjacent to the administrative quarter. There, civic theaters and various stadiums rose close together in imposing rows, while in the surrounding plazas athletic groups and music bands composed of boys and girls of similar age continued their practice or enjoyed brief moments of rest.

“To become a good mother of Lorida”—under that slogan promoted by the Republic Bureau of Racial Hygiene, Nadra herself had once belonged to such a girls’ athletic corps during her youth, sweating through track and equestrian training and enjoying the days of her adolescence. She stopped turning the pages of her documents and quietly narrowed her eyes at the rows of trees stretching through the park outside the car window.

Days that would never return… And yet days she could remember with a smile.

The Senate building, dazzling in pure white marble and adorned with magnificent sculptures in a circular design, awaited her. Inside, an official dispatched from the Diplomatic Council, the executive body responsible for foreign affairs, was waiting.

“Senator, the committee members have already assembled.”

“Very well…”

Following the guide, she proceeded forward. Her destination was a secluded room deep within the first floor.

Nadra moved down the red-carpeted corridor at a slightly hurried pace. The calm expression she had worn in the car had already vanished. Waiting in the room were not only the senators and bureaucrats who served on the same committee, but also two senior officers attached to the Supreme Command of the National Defense Forces, seated at the far end as they awaited the principal guest. One of them, a man wearing the insignia of a colonel, met Nadra’s gaze. For an instant they exchanged a silent nod of acknowledgment. Nothing more. She quickly walked to the seat of honor, placed the documents she had brought onto the ebony table, and—without sitting down—delivered the opening words.

“Gentlemen, I cannot express enough gratitude for your taking the time to gather here despite your busy schedules. However, this matter requires urgency. Today, I sincerely hope that all of you will actively exchange your views regarding the manifest—or potential—threats surrounding our motherland, Lorida. To begin with… I ask that you examine the materials currently being distributed.”

Drafts of the materials had already been given to the senior members of the National Defense Forces who had been invited to attend as technical advisers to the assembly. Among them, the more senior, Colonel Adams Di Bayo, was a rising young staff officer from the Supreme Command and a former classmate of Nadra’s from their days at the military academy.

For several minutes after the meeting began, the room was filled only with silence as the attendees carefully read the documents. Watching with faint amusement as the participants scrutinized each page of the report—neither particularly thick nor thin—Nadra’s thoughts drifted briefly to her grandfather, who was currently recuperating at his residence on the outskirts of the capital.

…But the moment of reflection lasted only an instant. The title printed at the beginning of the report pulled her sharply back into the present.

Japan – A New Threat

Silently mouthing the title of the report she herself had written, Nadra turned back toward the room.

“As you are all aware, in Sloria, where our compatriots are presently advancing the work of colonization, conflicts with the barbaric native tribes have become increasingly frequent. These inferior races are seizing territory that should rightfully be cultivated by Loridan settlers under the pretext of land development. They grow crops forbidden by the Sacred Canon and monopolize scarce water resources. Behind all of this lies Japan’s clear and barbaric intention of invasion, concealed under the guise of overseas expansion…”

She paused there and slowly swept her gaze across the room, as if measuring the reactions of those present.

“Furthermore… the Japanese have sent their agents deep into the interior of Sloria, occupying key locations under the pretense of conducting resource surveys. At the same time, they monopolize local trade and attempt to introduce their degenerate culture to the native tribes who know nothing of civilization… I ask you to pay close attention to page 10 of the materials.”

The sound of pages turning filled the room. A moment later, low groans of distaste and bitterness could be heard among the attendees. Page 10 contained extremely caricatured illustrations of boys and girls. Among them were images of women with exaggerated breasts and hips, their skin openly exposed, as well as scenes depicting clearly underage girls engaged in obscene acts.

“These were extracted from Japanese videos and comics obtained by our intelligence agents in Eusrenia, a country friendly to Japan. The Japanese are attempting to bring this degenerate culture into Sloria as well, and ultimately aim to seduce the races of the entire world with it. Already, Japan has economically dominated not only Eusrenia but the surrounding countries, subjecting people of conscience to brutal oppression. We have been entrusted by the Great God Kizlasa with the duty of liberating these races from the yoke imposed by the Japanese and guiding them to the teachings of Kizlasa under true freedom. Our responsibility is grave, and failure cannot be permitted.”

Having said that, Nadra glanced toward Colonel Bayo at the end of the table. At the same moment he rose smoothly from his seat, the major beside him began preparing a projector.

“What you will now see is footage of the Japanese navy conducting demonstrations in the territorial waters of neighboring countries. Japan is steadily building its military strength and displaying that power to the surrounding countries.”

The blinds were closed and the lights extinguished, plunging the room into artificial darkness. After a moment, the projector began to run. On the screen appeared the silhouette of a ship advancing across the sea. Despite its large size, the white vessel seemed to be armed only with relatively small-caliber machine guns. Among those present who possessed some military knowledge, there were likely some who found this peculiarity quietly suspicious. Painted on the ship’s hull were the words Japan Coast Guard, but none in the room could read them.

“This is one of the largest vessels of the Japanese navy, photographed by our intelligence services. It can carry one hundred armed personnel within the ship and can also embark and operate two rotary-wing aircraft. To us it is hardly worth mentioning, but for the small countries suffering under Japanese oppression it represents a serious threat.”

“…Indeed, hardly worth mentioning. Lacking a proper military force, they must resort to such underhanded methods.”

“With our navy’s proud Le Baze-class ships, something like this would be swept aside in an instant. We could sink it in five minutes.”

Snorts of derision echoed in the darkened room, but Nadra paid them no mind. She merely continued examining the figures printed in her documents and offered further explanation.

“In truth, Japan’s military strength cannot yet be called formidable compared to its economic power. However, in time they will undoubtedly expand that military strength and extend their aggression toward us as well. Before that happens, we must strike them and force their submission. It is far less costly to eradicate the symptoms of a disease before infection takes hold than attempt treatment after it has spread. At present, with our resources already strained maintaining our colonies, we would prefer to pursue the former course.”

“…And what does Senator Nadra intend to do afterward?”

“Do you have a concrete plan?”

At that question, Nadra smiled for the first time in the meeting. Only slightly, and with unmistakable irony.

“Once Japan has been subdued and we have taken full control of its internal administration, everything will begin. In the first stage, we will eliminate all of their leaders and abolish every one of their detestable institutions and systems. In the second stage, we will isolate them within regions appropriate to them and regulate their population through sterilization. In the third stage, we will completely sever their bizarre and ignorant culture. Against Japan, these stages must be carried out thoroughly and without exception. All of it shall be done under the Divine Will.”

In the artificial darkness, the soft sighs of admiration from those around her served as the answer to her proposal.

・・・

“—I offer my heartfelt thanks to all of you for arranging such a meaningful forum of discussion. Until next time…”

With words thoroughly wrapped in formal courtesy, Nadra brought the meeting to a close and dismissed the attendees. Afterward, only Nadra and Bayo remained in the conference room. Leaning back in his chair at the far end of the table, Bayo simply narrowed his eyes and watched Nadra as she gathered her papers. Without stopping her hands from sorting the documents, she spoke.

“…If you have something to say, go ahead.”

There was not the slightest hint of distance in her voice. Her expression had returned to the gentle one she had worn in the car.

“Every time I see you, you’ve changed. Honestly… you’ve become quite an extraordinary woman.”

“I’m honored by the compliment. But the version of me that would get carried away by such praise has been discarded long ago.”

“Have you ever thought of returning to the military? Even at your current age, you’d easily make lieutenant colonel.”

“Unfortunately, I’m a rather worldly person. Rather than standing on the front lines, I’d much rather stand at glamorous parties as a senator.”

Bayo laughed. From the way he reacted, it was clear he had never taken her words at face value. Nadra herself had intended it as nothing more than a clever joke.

“…You were a hero of the Republic. The brightest rising star among us. By now you might even have been a general. But you threw all that away and ran off to Sadreas. To that man who ranked below both you and me at the academy… He was a good guy, sure, but when we found out he’d won your heart, every man in our class was bitter about it. Myself included.”

“And you? Don’t you intend to return to your fighter squadron, Ace?”

“True enough… I’m getting tired of piloting a desk in the rear.”

With a wry smile, Bayo stretched his arms wide. Though he was far from being a boy anymore, the gesture somehow resembled that of a mischievous youth.

“…Actually, I’ve been reassigned to an operational unit. Well, attached to the 1st Air Division HQ, to be precise.”

“That’s a promotion, isn’t it?”

Nadra’s face brightened. The 1st Air Division was an elite fighter force responsible for defending the capital’s skies. Only the finest pilots were selected for it, and the latest aircraft were always allocated to them first.

“I don’t like the Zera-Larga. It feels less like I’m flying it and more like it’s flying me.”

As if letting his complaint drift past her ears, Nadra slipped the last of her documents into her bag.

“Tonight’s reception. You’re coming, of course?”

“I’m not sure… I might rather have a drink with the guys at a tavern in the entertainment district.”

“Should a hero who holds the Prokos-Shur (Senate’s Medal of Honor) really be saying something like that? Everyone is waiting for you to come.”

“The illustrious Class of 180, you mean?”

“That includes you too. And don’t forget—the cadets about to depart for their sacred military duties are looking forward to meeting a hero.”

・・・

By the time Nadra’s official car slipped into the underground parking garage of the capital’s most prestigious hotel, threading through the traffic of vehicles rushing home, the sky had already begun to darken. The Lorida Archipelago, located in the northern hemisphere of the New World, still clung stubbornly to the remnants of winter even as the calendar turned to the 5th Month. In the capital of Adarones, near the center of the islands, the cold season lingered like a reluctant guest. Inside the grand hall, octagonal in shape and decorated with statues of guardian deities at each direction, red carpets embroidered with gold thread covered the floor. The magnificent banquet hall had overflowed with guests, leaving many dignitaries gathered in the surrounding corridors. Elegantly dressed figures mingled alongside officers of the National Defense Forces in their crimson uniforms, conversations blooming everywhere—from social gossip to business affairs.

The moment Nadra stepped inside, countless gazes turned toward her.

“Look—the brilliant lady has arrived.”

“Truly… anything she wears suits her. I’m so jealous…”

Admiring whispers and burning stares followed her. As if unaffected by them, Nadra continued forward. Layers of crimson uniforms surrounded her as she made her way toward the banquet hall. The earnest eyes of the officer cadets, who had finished their graduation ceremony and would depart for their new assignments as early as tomorrow, caused her lips to soften into a gentle smile.

“Senator, may I have your autograph?”

“…If possible, a handshake as well.”

“Please take a photograph with me!”

Although senators were often somewhat avoided by younger officers, Nadra had once been one of the Defense Forces’ finest talents, and a national hero besides. Perhaps that was why the young men who would one day carry the military on their shoulders naturally looked up to her.

While shaking hands with one of the cadets, Nadra spoke to him.

“Where will you be stationed, officer?”

Standing straight, the young man saluted.

“Nodocor, ma’am…!”

He had named the colony across the strait from the Sloria region.

“Was that your preferred assignment?”

“Yes! It was my first choice. I’m very glad it was granted.”

“The front line of national defense, then. See that you devote yourself fully to your duty.”

Once again she clasped the young man’s hands in both of hers—firmly, warmly.

Nearby, another figure surrounded by officer cadets caught her eye. Even wrapped in a deep crimson uniform, the man’s broad frame and towering height were unmistakable.

He was the one who called out first.

“Nadra…!”

Like a great whale pursued by remoras, the huge man pushed through the cadets clinging around him and lumbered toward her. His thick chest, powerful jaw, and stiff sideburns were features Nadra could never forget.

“Rofgams! When did you return from Nodocor?”

The moment he reached her, he wrapped Nadra in his enormous arms like a towering tree and pressed his cheek against hers. He had always been like that, excessively demonstrative. But perhaps that was simply part of his charm. From this affectionate gesture alone, no one would guess that this man, renowned for his immense strength and compared to the legendary hero Delgadios reborn, was a fearless frontline commander deeply respected by the soldiers under his command.

Major Rofgams D-Ga Darz of the NDF Ground Force burst into loud laughter.

“Today, you know! I only arrived at the air base two hours ago. What’s the high command even thinking? If the Defense Forces have to drag their best people out for something as trivial as a party, our national defense must be falling apart!”

“That only means today is a special day. Think of it as a moment to relax and enjoy yourself.”

The cadets standing nearby watched their conversation from a respectful distance. In each of their eyes burned an unmistakable admiration. The Liberation Wars, which had begun in earnest more than a decade after the Transference, had seen the two of them serve as frontline commanders. The reputation of the Officer Academy’s famed Class of 180, whose members had amassed numerous victories and decorations, had not faded even now.

・・・

When the two finally stepped into the main hall, another reunion awaited them.

“Nadra! Rofgams! What kind of wind has blown the two of you here together?”

“Dirageneos. No particular reason—just how things turned out.”

The man who raised his hand to greet them was a commander dressed in a blue naval uniform. He was Dirageneos Lu Pha Rampas, who had joined the navy after graduating from the officer academy.

“I heard about you, Dirageneos. You became a captain?”

“You bet. Submarine Levaro. Remember that name. If you ever come visit, I’ll treat you to the best drink on board.”

“I’ll drink enough to empty your whole storehouse!”

“A submarine doesn’t have anything that fancy! Come to think of it, you were already a heavy drinker back at the academy.”

While the two men grew animated reminiscing about old times, Nadra watched them silently, her eyes narrowing in amusement. Then someone tapped her on the shoulder. When she turned around, Nadra’s eyes widened with delight.

“Dina…!”

“It’s been a while, Senator Nadra.”

The beautiful woman speaking to her was dressed not in the crimson uniform of the Defense Forces but in a white dress adorned with silver accessories. Her golden hair was cut short, and together with her straight nose and round blue eyes, she carried the unmistakable elegance and intelligence befitting a noblewoman. She was Dina Di Lo Teria Vakhrems, who had retired from the Defense Forces as a captain and married into the prestigious House of Vakhrems.

“Your health… is it better now?”

Dina, who had given birth to her first child only at the beginning of the previous month, nodded shyly.

“I’m fine. It wasn’t an illness, after all.”

“I heard it was a healthy girl… I’m glad.”

At those words, Dina’s expression clouded. Nadra realized the thoughtlessness of her remark and looked down awkwardly.

“We need an heir… but there’s no need to rush. We’re still young.”

Dina smiled. Though her smile carried a trace of sadness, it seemed she had recovered her composure somewhat.

“Thank you. Lormes says the same thing.”

Aside from rare “exceptions” like Nadra, Lorida was fundamentally a male-dominated society. For Dina, who had married into the aristocracy, a world even more closed and conservative than the military itself, the tension between ancient customs and her love for her husband was something Nadra could easily imagine.

“Lormes is here too, isn’t he?”

Dina smiled brightly. Her mouth opened wide, revealing white teeth and deep dimples. Just mentioning his name brought such joy to her face—it was clear how deeply she loved her husband.

Following Dina’s gaze across the hall, Nadra saw him. Surrounded by political leaders, financial elites, and high-ranking officers, Dina’s husband stood chatting elegantly with them. Though in his mid-twenties, his refined and youthful beauty could easily have passed for that of a teenager. He was Lormes Delhom Vakhrems, current head of the ancient House of Vakhrems that had existed since the founding of the Republic. Raised from childhood under elite training as a future leader, he had entered the Senate at the age of seventeen after his father’s early death. Now he served as Director of the Civil Protection Bureau within the Ministry of Civil Affairs. He had long been considered a leading candidate to become the next aide to the Consul, the highest executive authority of the state—and rumors said that even the Consul’s position itself might not be far beyond his reach.

Beside Lormes stood a fat elderly man who seemed vaguely familiar.

“That man… who is he?”

“A film director. He keeps begging Lormes to arrange permission from the Ministry of Colonies and the Ministry of Defense so he can travel to Nodocor and shoot a film about the garrison stationed there.”

Indeed, Nadra recognized the face now that she looked more closely. She had probably seen him at some gathering related to the film industry. His appearance resembled less a filmmaker than the boss of a construction crew, thick-skinned and rough. He had a bald head and wore shabby clothes utterly out of place in such a grand setting. It was not that he lacked money; rather, he simply seemed indifferent to such matters. Nadra herself, having long served as a patron to many artists as part of aristocratic custom, knew well that many of their kind were eccentric people who rarely fit comfortably into formal society.

“His name was… Atticenas, I think. Apparently the government and the military often commission him to make propaganda films,” Dina whispered.

Just then, Nadra noticed another familiar figure. A slender young woman stood before a small gathering of guests, dressed in a black robe and bishop’s cap, delivering a sermon. She was Safficina Kararo Te Raphaenas—their friend since the days of the academy, who had entered the clergy soon after receiving her commission. Even now, Nadra had not quite grown used to seeing her in this role.

“—Kizlasa has spoken thus: The land reached and opened by the strength of those chosen who believe in me shall belong to them. The colonists are driven solely by love and loyalty to the God Kizlasa, and they labor each day in development with the hope that they can overcome any hardship. But that alone is not enough. They also require the support of all of you gathered here today, who have been guided to hear the Divine Words. All followers of Kizlasa must unit. United, we must confront the violent heathens and bring peace to the colonists—”

Drawn by the sermon, Nadra and Dina approached Safficina. When she noticed them, her expression softened slightly.

Among the newly gathered listeners, one woman raised a question. She was an elderly lady of refined bearing, dressed in silk and fur.

“And what sort of people are these heathens?”

“—They are alien races who refuse to submit to the glory of Kizlasa. There are the barbarians who worship the false gods of the natives… but an even greater threat is the Japanese, who have come invading from the farthest reaches of the world.”

“Japanese…?”

At the unfamiliar name, murmurs spread through the gathering. Pleased with the reaction, Nadra gave a small nod.

“They claim they wish to make Sloria a peaceful and prosperous land, yet they bring with them the seeds of countless disasters. They introduce technologies of deception in order to enrich the heathens, needlessly nurture the soil, monopolize water, and even bring in strange crops and livestock. Before their brutality consumes the lands that Kizlasa promised to us, we must take action—whatever the cost.”

True to Safficina’s usually quiet nature, her tone remained calm and measured, yet the gravity of her words could not be hidden.

“And what sort of people are these Japanese? Is it not possible to enlighten them?” one guest asked.

Safficina shook her head sadly.

“I fear they possess neither the will nor the capacity for such enlightenment. Driven only by calculation and greed, they pursue excessive profit and indulge in immoral conduct. Did you know? They enjoy eating raw fish and readily adopt the barbaric customs of the natives. Worse still, they believe that gods dwell everywhere in nature—and that gods and humans are equal.”

“Outrageous! What do they think our sacred enterprise is!?”

One gentleman shouted. His hand trembled as he clutched the rosary that symbolized eternal devotion to Kizlasa.

“We should send the military at once and destroy those insolent wretches. Thoroughly, so they will never dare defy God again!”

“Why not simply level Japan’s entire land and turn it into pumpkin fields? Aerial bombardment would be a good start.”

“This is the moment for the military and the government to act in earnest. Those barbarians must be taught a painful lesson, what true faith truly means.”

Voices filled with righteous anger rose higher and higher, nearly reaching a fevered pitch—

Just then…

“Ladies and gentlemen, His Excellency Giliax Le Camesis, First Consul of the Senate, has just arrived at the venue. Please welcome him with your warmest applause and admiration!”

Even before the master of ceremonies had finished speaking, a military band stationed at the edge of the elevated platform began to play a lively tune in unison. It was the “Consul’s March,” announcing the arrival of the supreme leader of the state.

The elderly man who entered, accompanied by his wife and followed by a retinue and security detail so numerous they might have been mistaken for an entire platoon, had narrow eyes, a neatly trimmed white beard, and thick, somewhat unruly hair. Yet despite his age, a childlike smile constantly spread across his face. It was the kind of genial expression that seemed meant to portray him as a kindly old man, yet somehow made it difficult to discern his true intentions.

Camesis had become First Consul alongside Second Consul Boniface Tias, and this month marked the halfway point of their five-year term—two and a half years completed. Unlike the Second Consul, who was absent from the reception due to a family bereavement, Camesis came from a distinguished lineage that had produced many senior senators over generations. Tias, by contrast, had been born into an ordinary merchant family, later entered academia, and eventually married into a noble faction that granted him senatorial status. He was known as a “self-made man.”

In truth, Tias’s rise—someone who normally would never have held high office, let alone become Consul—was partly due to his administrative ability. But ultimately it had been the accidental outcome of the delicate balance of power within the Senate between the aristocratic factions and the populist camp. His appointment had served largely as a gesture toward the commoner classes dissatisfied with the aristocrats’ dominance in politics. Naturally, the real authority of the Consul’s office rested largely in the hands of Camesis.

Waving his hands and returning handshakes from the guests, Camesis slowly ascended the stage. Beside him walked a group of officers clad in red uniforms adorned with gold braid and medals. Behind them followed leading figures from various corporate alliances. The scene vividly demonstrated that Camesis held not only political power but also the loyalty of the military and the financial world.

Or perhaps, when it came to the military, it might be more accurate to say they merely pretended to be under his control. At the head of the military leaders walking behind him stood a middle-aged general who occasionally exchanged words with Camesis. Nadra watched him with a faint bitterness.

“…At this point, Mr. Dokugram’s position must be completely unshakable,” Safficina murmured.

Nadra gave a wry smile.

“No. The one whose position has become unshakable is Mr. Camesis.”

The man in question was Kazars Garda Dokugram. Tall and gaunt, with a high aquiline nose and sharp eyes like those of an eagle, he was an imposing figure. Though he had been away from the front lines for twenty years and was now approaching old age, there was not the slightest hint of vulnerability in any of his movements.

Dokugram was a full general in the National Defense Forces and commander of the Guard Corps responsible for the capital’s defense—the most powerful figure within the military. Despite being a soldier, he also held a seat in the Senate and served as the supreme adviser to the National Defense Committee. The title of “adviser” might have sounded unimpressive, but since the committee chairman’s seat had effectively become an honorary post for a nearly retired elderly senator, the real authority over national defense had concentrated in Dokugram’s hands.

As a result of the Liberation Wars fought over the past decade, the influence of the military—once merely the spearhead of those campaigns—had grown dramatically. How long had it been since the military and its associated arms industries had begun exerting decisive influence over the selection of the Consul? Conversely, any senator who secured their support was guaranteed extraordinary advancement and political influence. For the past ten years, that was precisely what Camesis had been doing.

Because she knew that all too well, Nadra—who sought to secure the Senate’s superiority over the military, in other words the maintenance of civilian control—could not bring herself to feel genuine goodwill toward the Consul to whom she was supposed to pledge her loyalty.

“Thanks to the military, we can devote ourselves to the ‘civilizing mission’ with peace of mind… I think their methods are wrong, but… for the moment, I suppose they’re a necessary evil.”

“For the moment… My husband doesn’t get along very well with those people,” Dina said quietly.

Though born into the aristocracy, Lormes Delhom Vakhrems possessed an enlightened outlook. Because he strongly advocated expanding welfare for the less fortunate masses, he frequently clashed with Giliax Le Camesis and the military over the allocation of the national defense budget and policies for maintaining order in the colonies. As a result, fierce debates often erupted in the Senate.

On the stage, Camesis stood before the microphone and waved his hand as if to quiet the applause and cheers. Behind him sat supporters from the military and the financial world, including Kazars Garda Dokugram, all watching every movement of their Consul.

“…Gentlemen. Quiet… quiet now. Please don’t mind me—enjoy the wine and the food. Ah—though I must apologize to the cadets who are today’s guests of honor. It would be best if you refrained from drinking until you come of age. If you lose control here, it may damage your future careers.”

At the light joke, laughter broke out, and Nadra felt the atmosphere in the hall soften. Even she had to admit that the Consul possessed a talent for this sort of thing.

“…I am proud to stand here on this glorious day and speak before you all. To our distinguished guests, I ask that you join me in celebrating these young people who, having passed through the gates of the officer academy, will soon depart for the front lines of national defense. To devote one’s youth to the service of the nation is the privilege of the young. We who are old should watch over them warmly—neither begrudging nor envying them—as they exercise that privilege. Today I attended the graduation ceremony of the officer academy, and as I beheld the splendid, spirited figures of the young men who will now become officers of the National Defense Forces, I felt certain that the defense of our Republic is unshakable. Now we must turn that certainty into reality. That is the duty of you cadets, and the mission granted to you by the Kizlasa. I, Giliax Le Camesis, take this opportunity to tell you: in recent years, our Republic has been facing a grave crisis of national security…”

Confused murmurs suddenly spread through the hall. The word crisis alone was enough to make everyone stop mid-conversation. Glasses halted halfway to lips, and all eyes turned toward the Consul who had spoken. Nadra and the others silently fixed their gaze on the stage. After slowly sweeping his eyes across the reactions of the guests below, the Consul opened his mouth again.

“Beyond the seas from here, three thousand leagues away, lies the fertile land of Sloria. The settlers who braved every hardship to take the first steps of development there are now being threatened by the encroachment of a certain savage race. Even as we speak, they continue to fight the barbarians, sustained only by their loyalty to the homeland and their love for the Kizlasa. That savage race is the Japanese, who have stretched their hand of invasion from the far eastern reaches of Sloria. They seize the land that the Kizlasa promised to our settlers and trample it beneath their filthy boots. As faithful followers of Kizlasa, we must resolutely drive them out. You cadets—and indeed all of us—will, in the near future, inevitably settle the matter with this greatest and most terrible of barbarians…! To the cadets who are today’s honored guests, to the soldiers who dedicate their days to the defense of our nation, I pray for the blessing of our beloved God Kizlasa!”

Cheers rose from somewhere in the hall and quickly swelled until they overwhelmed the entire venue.

With a natural smile forming on her lips, Nadra raised her slender white hand and lifted her wineglass toward the stage.

・・・

As the banquet reached its height, Nadra, perhaps because of the constant strain of her daily duties, began to feel a light fatigue. Hoping to get some fresh night air, she made her way toward the veranda. She opened a window and stepped out onto the gallery overlooking the hotel’s courtyard. There she noticed someone already present and stopped in her tracks.

It was Safficina. Leaning rather inelegantly against the stone balcony, she gave Nadra a small nod of greeting and gestured for her to come sit beside her.

The first words out of Safficina’s mouth were: “Life is strange, isn’t it…? It hasn’t even been ten years since we walked out of the gates of the same academy, and now we’re all walking completely different paths.”

Nadra could not help but agree inwardly. After graduating from the officer academy with a shared aspiration to serve the nation’s defense, the lives of Nadra, Safficina, and Dina—the three close friends—had indeed taken sharp and very different turns. One had become a cleric. Another had married the rising star of the Senate. And the third had become a senator herself. Nadra and Safficina in particular had once been rivals and best friends, competing fiercely in horsemanship and swordsmanship for the top position at the academy.

“How is the ‘civilizing mission’ in Sloria going?”

“Well enough… for now.”

Safficina smiled as she said it. Seeing that her smile had not changed at all since their days at the academy gave Nadra a quiet sense of relief.

The “civilizing mission” was the state project aimed at spreading the faith and culture of Kizlasa to distant lands considered backward in civilization. Clergy involved in the project—and their supporters—believed it was both their personal calling and the destiny of the state to spread the faith of Kizlasa among the barbarian lands. Since the Transference more than twenty years earlier, they had devoted themselves to that work.

Safficina was no exception. Since throwing herself into life in faraway Sloria, she had dedicated her efforts to providing religious education in the faith of Kizlasa to the children of the local races. Regarding that “religious education,” Safficina had once explained it to Nadra during a dinner at the Luga family’s house.

“We separate the children from their parents so they can live apart. The parents are already completely steeped in their barbaric customs, so the first step is to civilize the children who will carry the next generation…”

“How cruel…” Nadra had said.

But Safficina had simply shaken her head without concern.

“It’s necessary if we’re to bring civilization to barbarians. It can’t be helped.”

Remembering that scene, Nadra asked quietly:

“…And how are your children doing now?”

“They’ve grown quite used to dormitory life by now. Some still try to escape occasionally to see their parents, but… naturally they’re punished. Those children must never again come into contact with their old culture. Not ever.”

“You must have it hard.”

Safficina gave a faint nod at Nadra’s words. Yet the golden eyes looking back at her carried an unmistakable hint that she did not entirely dislike the work.

As Nadra drifted in her recollection, the door suddenly swung open with force and Dina rushed in.

“Both of you—so this is where you were! Stop whispering like a pair of pickpockets and come back inside. Dirageneos and Adams are all waiting. They said we should eat cake together…”

“Adams came too?” Safficina asked.

Dina nodded with a bright smile.

Placing a hand lightly on Dina’s back, Nadra said, “Well then, let’s accept the gentlemen’s invitation. It’s only cake, after all—surely even the Kizlasa won’t punish us for that.”

Her words carried a touch of consideration for Safficina, a devout follower of Kizlasa who preferred simple food and ascetic living.

“…I suppose that’s true.”

As she turned, the vast canopy of stars suddenly filled Nadra’s view. The sight drew an involuntary smile to her lips.