Arc 7, Chapter 62 "The Order of the Island"
--He doesn't know why he is here, and he doesn't know why one of the "Nine Divine Generals" are here.
Suddenly, Subaru's head is engulfed in confusion as he fails to dispose of the bombshell.
The impact was much more intense than being doused with cold water, and he couldn't help but blink a few times.
"Wh-what do you mean? I don't know why I'm here......"
"What do you mean by that? I found myself on this isolated island, with no context and no prospects for the future, and I was in a very weak state. Well, this is a rather comfortable place for me to live, so it's not as bad as being in a state of great weakness, but I'll put it that way."
"----"
"Oh? Are you thinking again? Well, you like to think, don't you? No, I think it's fine. I don't like to think too much, you see. I don't make fun of people who think, and I don't get in their way, so keep your mouth shut!"
It takes a long time before he closes his mouth, and Cecilus becomes quiet for a moment. However, his legs are still flapping while he closes his mouth, and his vision is noisy as he moves around a bit.
It may not have been stupid, but it was more than disturbing enough.
But Subaru doesn't have the luxury of rambling on about such things. If he's going to butt in anyway, he should talk about something that makes sense.
For example--,
"How come you don't know anything about the 'Nine Divine Generals' but you know you are called the 'Blue Lightning'? That doesn't make sense."
"The answer to that question is simple. It was I myself who came up with the numbing nickname! Cecilus Segmunt, the 'Blue Lightning' of Vollachia! What do you think? It's a nickname that really gives a vivid and elegant impression! I will make my name so famous that everyone will be dazzled by me as the star of the show! It's a sign of my determination."
"You came up with your own nickname......"
Subaru's shoulders slumped in disappointment when he was told this with his chest puffed out.
Cecilus looked at Subaru like that and said, "Huh? What's wrong~?" He looked into his face so openly. But he lost the energy to answer.
Whether this boy in front of him was a real or fake "Cecilus Segmunt" was settled.
The theory that there are many adults who do not respect children does not have the power to overturn the outrageous statement that they do not know the "Nine Divine Generals", as expected.
No matter how much he wanted to, he could not follow up on the statement that the real one general did not know the "Nine Divine Generals".
"You've got to be kidding me if you don't know you're an Imperial general......"
It is very impossible to make sense out of such a logic full of holes.
So, in Subaru's mind, the possibility that the boy in front of him is the real Cecilus has disappeared. He is just a wolf boy who is too much of a prankster - a fake Cecilus.
And so, the thin thread of hope that sprouted in the cul-de-sac is snapped.
If only one seed of hope remains, it is that the false Cecilus was a liar, and maybe the story about the too-scary island earlier was also a lie by him--,
"--You have been in a place like this, Segmunt?"
"Wha!?"
The next moment, a man's thick voice hits him on the back as he thinks, and Subaru jumps.
Subaru's exultation was compounded when he turned around at the entrance to the healing room where he heard the voice, a voice that did not belong to the fake Cecilus or, of course, Tanza, who was lying in bed.
--The reason is that the figure standing at the entrance of the healing room was a ridiculously large man.
"So big......!"
The man was so large that he could not help but admire him.
No, he was not only tall, but he was thick both vertically and horizontally, and the description of his entire body as thick and large fits the description. His neck and limbs were as strong as logs, and the black clothes he wore, like those of a police officer or a soldier, were so taut and tight that they looked as if they were about to be ripped off.
Regardless of the fact that Subaru is shrinking, he is a huge man who needs to look up so much that his neck hurts.
He is easily over two meters tall and may be the largest human Subaru has seen in the other world. His huge body is topped with a very stern face, and he has too many features, such as fangs that protrude even when his mouth is closed and blue skin color.
Yet, we have yet to describe the most prominent features.
The most prominent feature is--,
"Yo, hello, Gustav! You look splendid this morning! Your attention to every detail of your appearance is the basis of a gentleman's attitude, which I think you should really learn from!"
"I am glad to see that you are as healthy as ever. A being like you should only be consumed in the gladiatorial arena, so I, in all fairness, have strictly judged."
So the big man - the one called Gustav - replied with a long exhale of light false Cecilus's words, crossing his thick 'four' arms.
Yes, four arms.
A large man with a face like a demon, whose large body was wrapped in a mass of muscles, had the characteristic of having four arms with two arms sprouting from each shoulder. As he recalls, he had heard from an old man he knew that a subhuman tribe called the Many-armed Tribe possessed such a feature.
He knew a man, an old man--,
"Uh...... yes, that's Wilhelm."
Such is Subaru's difficulty in recalling the names of acquaintances.
While Subaru was struggling, the fake Cecilus laughed at Gustav's words and said, "Nope".
"I am so sorry for your concern! I understand what you are saying, Gustav! If I am going to die, it should be on the battlefield. I'm so grateful to have a sensible man as island master, I really am a man of character!"
"The mixing of public and private affairs is an obstacle to order. Such foolishness is not the right thing for a professional to do."
"Yeah, yeah, I understand! I am very grateful to Governor Gustav for his consideration!"
Gustav squints his intelligent eyes at the fake Cecilus, who puts his hands together with a goofy look on his face.
Subtly, the statement "I don't mix public and private" sounded to Subaru like he personally disliked the fake Cecilus, but there's no point in digging into that.
He finally had someone to talk to, other than the fake Cecilus.
"So, Segmunt. That boy over there."
And just like that, Gustav also turned his attention to Subaru.
He looked down at him from a great height, and even just looking at him, he felt suffocated as if his whole body was filled with a sense of intimidation. The four arms and the fists on the ends of the arms are all the size of a child's head, and Subaru would probably die if hit with them.
Involuntarily, Subaru gulped and spat, while the fake Cecilus clapped his hands beside him.
"Yes, yes, she finally woke up. So I brought her here because I was worried about her companion, the young lady. But it seems that the sleeping lady was not the one we wanted, and there are a lot of misunderstandings. I was just about to let the shock of it all sink in and let the story unfold! And that's where the story begins."
"Thank you for explaining. But if he had woken up, I would have ordered him to be brought to the main office first. That would have been the condition for the Governor General to give permission for this boy and girl to land on the island."
"Was I right? I'm sorry, I'm forgetful."
"----"
Gustav silently rubs his finger between his own eyebrows as the fake Cecilus replies matter-of-factly.
And so, the man much closer to the sky than Subaru and the others stared at the ceiling, mumbling to himself, "My day job is to keep order, I don't mix public and private......".
He is not sure what the relationship is with the fake Cecilus, but they are probably giving him a very hard time.
Sorry Gustav, but he was a little relieved to find that out.
"I wasn't the only one who got pushed around by Cessy."
"I'm sorry to hear that you've been pushed around like this. I think I've given you all the explanations you want, the people you want to meet, and the places you want to go."
"Yeah, well, I said too much. The explanation was a lot of detours, and the people I was allowed to meet with weren't the people I wanted to meet with, and they dented me by telling me I couldn't go where I wanted."
Surely there is no malice in the fake cecilus, so there is no point in saying that.
When Subaru told him so, the fake Cecilus puckered his lips in dissatisfaction and said, "Tsk". Gustav turned his head toward Subaru again, as if he had successfully dealt with his dissatisfaction.
And then--,
"Boy, if you're awake, let's talk again."
"I'd be happy to let you do that, sir. I, too, would have loved to hear from someone else. With the great people on this island, it would be great."
"Hm."
As Subaru speaks, careful with his words, Gustav touches his chin with his two right hands.
He has a stern appearance, but his speech and appearance are very quiet and calm, and there is an intelligent light in his eyes, which gives him the impression that he has a shaggy head, similar to Zikr.
In other words, they represent adults who can talk.
As if to confirm Subaru's expectations, Gustav nodded deeply and gravely.
"My name is Gustav Morello, and I have been entrusted by His Excellency Emperor Vincent of Vollachia, the 77th Emperor of the Holy Vollachian Empire, with the management of this island. Can you tell me your name and affiliation?"
He politely states his position and name and confronts Subaru head-on.
Subaru looked at this fact lightly, then put his hand on his chest and bowed his head.
"Th-thank you for introducing yourself. My name is Natsuki...... Natsuki Schwarz."
"I see. Schwarz."
Subaru was pressured, but he called Gustav by name.
For a moment, he wondered whether to use his real name or a pseudonym and ended up with a somewhat half-hearted answer, but at this point, he should consider it a good performance.
He honestly doesn't know if it is right or wrong to lie to Gustav.
But it is not good for Subaru's real name to spread. The fake Cecilus was not a big deal because it was a fake general, but you never know who in the kingdom is bright about the affairs of the kingdom.
What can be hidden should be hidden. Even if Cecilus, upon hearing Subaru's current alias, had said, "Huh~?" even if he was tilting his head grandly.
"But if you are Natsuki Schwarz, how did Segmunt get you to be Bassu?"
"I think Cessy has his own logic. Would you like to find out for sure?"
"--. No, let's not. Considering the duties entrusted to my day job, I have no time to spend on futile attempts. My day job is not to be a wise man, but I do try to be wise."
Shaking his head, Gustav makes a wise, Subaru-like decision.
It is somewhat annoying to think that this is due to the daily activities of the fake Cecilus, so let's consider that Subaru's daily activities were good here.
Anyway--,
"He was able to answer to my name, and from what I could see, he didn't seem to have any physical problems. According to the healer, you were very weak, but are you aware of it?"
"I think I'm feeling a little bit tired of my fitness...... But thanks for all your, you know, help."
"I have to correct one thing, Schwarz. It was Segmunt there who helped you, not your day job. He has only conditionally agreed to accept you."
"I-I see."
Subaru is about to be stumped by Gustav's reasoned and methodical response.
The way he speaks and the content are not particularly friendly to them, and the tone of his voice is somewhere between cold and emotionless, but his easy-to-understand explanations are genuinely helpful.
Compared to the fake Cecilus, the combination of the amount of statements and the amount of information is far superior.
Even the question he just asked me seemed to be concerned about Subaru's condition when he woke up, and at this rate, he might understand if he talks to him.
Subaru, and Tanza, too, had arrived at this solitary island by mistake.
"Gustav, This girl...... named Tanza and I, and we came here by mistake or something."
"What do you mean, 'Mistake or something'?"
"--! I don't know why that is. But you know we're farther away...... Chaos Flame, right? We were supposed to be in that city!"
According to the fake Cecilus, this island and the Demon City are very far from each other.
That should be enough to make people understand that what happened to Subaru and the others was an emergency situation. It was no ordinary thing to be sent from the capital to this island.
"I know it's a bugger to say this after all the help you've given me, but I can't stay here much longer. I'm sure our people are looking for us! We need to let them know we're safe and join them as soon as we can."
Ideally, he would leave here with Tanza if he could.
It's unknown why both Subaru and Tanza are on the island, but he is sure Yorna is worried about Tanza. Since his original goal was to get Yorna on his side, Abel would not be offended if he did something that made her happy.
Besides, Subaru liked Yorna.
If that kind woman is happy, he thinks it's a good thing.
"So I'm going to get out of here as soon as I--"
"--That's enough. That's enough, Schwarz."
Subaru leaned forward and tried to raise his voice, but a huge palm stopped him. Subaru was silenced by the two right hands thrust in front of his face, and he choked on his words, "Uhh".
Over his right hand, Gustav stroked his chin and head at the same time with his left.
"I understand your point of view. But you must also listen to what I have to say in my day job. That is what is called fairness."
"Fairness......"
"Yes, it's fairness. It's fair, it's rigorous, it's unbiased, it's the absolute truth that is essential to building what we call the...... Order."
Subaru raises his eyebrows when he is interrupted by the assertion and then the words are slowly piled on top of each other.
Fairness or impartiality sounds very leisurely from a position of impatience. But Subaru nodded anyway, knowing that going against Gustav here would not help.
To Subaru's response, Gustav closed one eye and said, "Very well".
"You remember what he said earlier about his day job? That it was Segmunt who saved you, and that he allowed you and her to come ashore only on one condition."
"It's...... yes, I remember, but......"
My attention was on the part that was saved and not so much on the conditions. However, Gustav had indeed told Subaru in a heavy voice.
But what are the conditions? What are the conditions for Subaru and Tanza to be raised to the island?
"Schwarz, you have the proper judgment, you have knowledge that you are comfortable with receiving, you have the education to use honorifics in your day job, you have an evaluation of health based on the healer's diagnosis, and you have the fact that you yourself are not ailing from your self-reported physical condition. Any objections?"
"I'm giddy when you say it all at once, but...... I probably can't argue with that."
"Perhaps is a somewhat unpersuasive opinion. Is there or is there not?"
"--. I have no objection."
Gustav's gaze does not allow Subaru to give a half answer.
Overwhelmed by this, he looked back at his opponent, and his gaze was bounced back by Gustav's frightening, stone-faced face, which did not change the color of his eyes or the expression on his face.
Unilaterally, the conversation is being led by Gustav.
This makes the unpleasant feeling grow louder, but he can't come up with a quick response. As usual, Subaru has no information. In other words, there are no options.
On behalf of Subaru--,
"You see, I told you. I told you that Bassu is a good fit for Gustav's eyes. We're on schedule, so what else is there to say?"
"But the girl is not awake."
"I'm sure there's a way to make it work with the Governor General's authority or something."
"Yes. As long as the girl does not wake up, we shall begin with one less than stipulated."
"Oh my God, did you just bring up some nonsense upon yourself!?"
The fake Cecilus is the one who talks with Gustav, leaving the bewildered Subaru in the dark.
He could not see the main content of that conversation, but he could read that it was about Subaru and Tanza and that the fake Cecilus did not carry the conversation well.
Moreover, he has a feeling that it is not the fake Cecilus himself who will pay the bill for his failure.
"I'm sorry, Bassu. It seems that I can only help you up to this point. The rest you will have to do on your own. I'm sure you can do it!"
"Wa-wait, wait, wait! The flow of the conversation is too creepy! What kind of exchange was that? Gustav! The terms of our stay on the island... ....."
"--Joining 'Sparka'."
"Spar......?"
Subaru frowned as the unfamiliar word, which he had never heard of, was dropped from on high.
If he says he is going to participate, then this "Sparka" must be some kind of event or something. He has a bad feeling about this event being held on this solitary island.
To begin with, Al said that life on the Gladiator Island was hard and painful.
Events there are bound to be scary or painful.
"Wait, Gustav! Why do we have to go out to Sparka! We didn't come to this island by ourselves!"
"Prisoners of war, slaves, criminals...... the circumstances of those who land in this Ginunhive vary, but few come willingly. And the role of my day job is only to lay down order on this Gladiator Island, full of outlaws, and to do my duty to the best of my ability for the sake of His Excellency's wishes."
"His Excellency......, what does the emperor want?"
"--To transform this Gladiator Island into the most meaningful and bloody place in the empire."
It was such a terribly thirsty declaration that Subaru's blood ran cold from the bite.
The color of Gustav's eyes, his mannerisms, they seemed cold and unwavering, but he was wrong. There were more appropriate words to describe Gustav.
It was as if, yes, as if they were robots, inorganic and cold.
Gustav called Subaru "Schwarz", who gasped and stiffened at the change in his impression.
Then he looked down at Subaru, who was much smaller than he was.
"Call me 'Emperor'. Once a caution, twice a warning, never a third."
"......"
"And I also want to remind you that I will not allow you to refuse to join Sparka. If you refuse to participate in Sparka, you and the girl will suffer the fate you deserve."
"......ugh"
"We reject Segmunt's plea and deny him permission to come ashore. --The only thing that will happen to him is that he will fall prey to the aquatic monsters that live in the lake waters."
Easily and without any hesitation, Gustav picked Subaru's future options.
A big man clearly tells his child partner that if she refuses, he will have her die. This is what it means to be bloodless and tearless, and it makes him want to curse his own bad luck that he can only suffer hardship even when he is small.
Aren't they usually more gentle with children?
Or, in the Vollachian empire, where the strong are the greatest, does it go unscathed when children are killed one after another because they are weak?
"If so, fuck that country......"
"We will allow that abuse, though the intent is unclear. If you shut down all speech, dissatisfaction will build up. The seeds of great folly grow in the seedbed of discontent, watered by animosity."
Shaking his head loosely to the side, Gustav grabbed Subaru's shoulder as he gritted his teeth.
Subaru was caught in a palm that could easily grasp his head, and he could not resist. He thought about forcibly resisting and getting out of here, but--,
"I don't recommend that approach, Bassu. You will probably end up in worse trouble. This is not so much a request from an old woman as it is a request from a man who feels that it would be boring to do so."
"Thanks for expressing your sentiments. Screw you, Cessy."
"I saved him, but I was told I was being terrible. However, I don't understand Bassu's desire to say so, so I won't get angry at him."
The entrance is casually blocked by the fake Cecilus, and Subaru is deprived of the last bit of resistance.
In the end, when he tried to express his indignation at the situation to the false Cecilus, whose friend or foe was not clear, in dirty words, his response was a push in the arm, and he got no response.
Anyway, Subaru is forced to participate in an event called "Sparka", which is not a good idea.
If you refuse, they'll feed you to the fishes, and if you do what they say, they'll--,
"Prove your credentials, and the Governor General will be responsible to receive you as a swordsman."
"......That, would be awesome."
If it works, they are slaves, and if it doesn't, they are fish food.
He said that he have never had anything good happen to him since he got smaller, but he stands corrected on that.
--Not a single good thing has happened since he came to this Vollachian Empire.
"......I hate the Vollachian Empire."
Subaru's hateful grudge was small, quiet and thin, as if he was taking care of Tanza, who was still sleeping.
And then--,
△▼△▼△▼△
--The heat was felt all over the venue.
The eerie thing is that despite the number of gazes that pour in, there is little bustle.
It is a rare experience of quiet excitement or madness, or if it should be said, of loud silence.
However, Subaru does not have the luxury of being angry or complaining about it.
"Shit, shit...... you gotta be kidding me, this sucks......!"
"I'll do it, I'll do it......"
"Shut up! You will obey my commands and you will not die! And you will not have to die!"
Cutting through the noisy silence are three men in the immediate vicinity of Subaru.
Each of them is a rock-skinned skalengecked man, a bald-headed man with many tattoos carved on his body, and a well-faceted young man with long, rust-colored hair.
They all come from different backgrounds and races, but they all have one thing in common.
That is, not having Subaru in the head count and the life-threatening tension in their eyes.
And if this continues, it is that the birthdays may be different, but the dates of death will be the same.
"--Gentlemen, first of all, congratulations on landing on this island. Emperor Vincent of Vollachia in the Imperial City must be very pleased. As the viceroy who has been personally entrusted by the Emperor with the management of the Gladiator Island, I give you a test of honor."
He was Gustav Morello, who looked down on the gladiatorial arena from a special seat atop a high wall - the governor of the Gladiator Island Ginunhive, and the man in charge of the entertainment here.
And then, under Gustav's feet - as the fence of the passageway that sends the warriors to the gladiatorial arena opens, a horrifying apparition slowly, slowly emerges from the darkness.
A lion's face with red eyes and four legs like a hoofed deer. With twisted horns and tusks and a frighteningly long tail, his huge body makes even the giant Gustav look small.
Spilling drool and snarls from its mouth, the demonic beast - no, here it is called a gladiatorial beast, a fearsome enemy that comes lumbering in.
That is exactly who Subaru and the other three must confront--,
"--Prove your prestige as a strong imperial citizen, as the Emperor desires!"
--He was an examiner for the "Sparka", a barbaric test to become a gladiator.
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--He doesn't know why he is here, and he doesn't know why one of the "Nine Divine Generals" are here.
Suddenly, Subaru's head is engulfed in confusion as he fails to dispose of the bombshell.
The impact was much more intense than being doused with cold water, and he couldn't help but blink a few times.
"Wh-what do you mean? I don't know why I'm here......"
"What do you mean by that? I found myself on this isolated island, with no context and no prospects for the future, and I was in a very weak state. Well, this is a rather comfortable place for me to live, so it's not as bad as being in a state of great weakness, but I'll put it that way."
"----"
"Oh? Are you thinking again? Well, you like to think, don't you? No, I think it's fine. I don't like to think too much, you see. I don't make fun of people who think, and I don't get in their way, so keep your mouth shut!"
It takes a long time before he closes his mouth, and Cecilus becomes quiet for a moment. However, his legs are still flapping while he closes his mouth, and his vision is noisy as he moves around a bit.
It may not have been stupid, but it was more than disturbing enough.
But Subaru doesn't have the luxury of rambling on about such things. If he's going to butt in anyway, he should talk about something that makes sense.
For example--,
"How come you don't know anything about the 'Nine Divine Generals' but you know you are called the 'Blue Lightning'? That doesn't make sense."
"The answer to that question is simple. It was I myself who came up with the numbing nickname! Cecilus Segmunt, the 'Blue Lightning' of Vollachia! What do you think? It's a nickname that really gives a vivid and elegant impression! I will make my name so famous that everyone will be dazzled by me as the star of the show! It's a sign of my determination."
"You came up with your own nickname......"
Subaru's shoulders slumped in disappointment when he was told this with his chest puffed out.
Cecilus looked at Subaru like that and said, "Huh? What's wrong~?" He looked into his face so openly. But he lost the energy to answer.
Whether this boy in front of him was a real or fake "Cecilus Segmunt" was settled.
The theory that there are many adults who do not respect children does not have the power to overturn the outrageous statement that they do not know the "Nine Divine Generals", as expected.
No matter how much he wanted to, he could not follow up on the statement that the real one general did not know the "Nine Divine Generals".
"You've got to be kidding me if you don't know you're an Imperial general......"
It is very impossible to make sense out of such a logic full of holes.
So, in Subaru's mind, the possibility that the boy in front of him is the real Cecilus has disappeared. He is just a wolf boy who is too much of a prankster - a fake Cecilus.
And so, the thin thread of hope that sprouted in the cul-de-sac is snapped.
If only one seed of hope remains, it is that the false Cecilus was a liar, and maybe the story about the too-scary island earlier was also a lie by him--,
"--You have been in a place like this, Segmunt?"
"Wha!?"
The next moment, a man's thick voice hits him on the back as he thinks, and Subaru jumps.
Subaru's exultation was compounded when he turned around at the entrance to the healing room where he heard the voice, a voice that did not belong to the fake Cecilus or, of course, Tanza, who was lying in bed.
--The reason is that the figure standing at the entrance of the healing room was a ridiculously large man.
"So big......!"
The man was so large that he could not help but admire him.
No, he was not only tall, but he was thick both vertically and horizontally, and the description of his entire body as thick and large fits the description. His neck and limbs were as strong as logs, and the black clothes he wore, like those of a police officer or a soldier, were so taut and tight that they looked as if they were about to be ripped off.
Regardless of the fact that Subaru is shrinking, he is a huge man who needs to look up so much that his neck hurts.
He is easily over two meters tall and may be the largest human Subaru has seen in the other world. His huge body is topped with a very stern face, and he has too many features, such as fangs that protrude even when his mouth is closed and blue skin color.
Yet, we have yet to describe the most prominent features.
The most prominent feature is--,
"Yo, hello, Gustav! You look splendid this morning! Your attention to every detail of your appearance is the basis of a gentleman's attitude, which I think you should really learn from!"
"I am glad to see that you are as healthy as ever. A being like you should only be consumed in the gladiatorial arena, so I, in all fairness, have strictly judged."
So the big man - the one called Gustav - replied with a long exhale of light false Cecilus's words, crossing his thick 'four' arms.
Yes, four arms.
A large man with a face like a demon, whose large body was wrapped in a mass of muscles, had the characteristic of having four arms with two arms sprouting from each shoulder. As he recalls, he had heard from an old man he knew that a subhuman tribe called the Many-armed Tribe possessed such a feature.
He knew a man, an old man--,
"Uh...... yes, that's Wilhelm."
Such is Subaru's difficulty in recalling the names of acquaintances.
While Subaru was struggling, the fake Cecilus laughed at Gustav's words and said, "Nope".
"I am so sorry for your concern! I understand what you are saying, Gustav! If I am going to die, it should be on the battlefield. I'm so grateful to have a sensible man as island master, I really am a man of character!"
"The mixing of public and private affairs is an obstacle to order. Such foolishness is not the right thing for a professional to do."
"Yeah, yeah, I understand! I am very grateful to Governor Gustav for his consideration!"
Gustav squints his intelligent eyes at the fake Cecilus, who puts his hands together with a goofy look on his face.
Subtly, the statement "I don't mix public and private" sounded to Subaru like he personally disliked the fake Cecilus, but there's no point in digging into that.
He finally had someone to talk to, other than the fake Cecilus.
"So, Segmunt. That boy over there."
And just like that, Gustav also turned his attention to Subaru.
He looked down at him from a great height, and even just looking at him, he felt suffocated as if his whole body was filled with a sense of intimidation. The four arms and the fists on the ends of the arms are all the size of a child's head, and Subaru would probably die if hit with them.
Involuntarily, Subaru gulped and spat, while the fake Cecilus clapped his hands beside him.
"Yes, yes, she finally woke up. So I brought her here because I was worried about her companion, the young lady. But it seems that the sleeping lady was not the one we wanted, and there are a lot of misunderstandings. I was just about to let the shock of it all sink in and let the story unfold! And that's where the story begins."
"Thank you for explaining. But if he had woken up, I would have ordered him to be brought to the main office first. That would have been the condition for the Governor General to give permission for this boy and girl to land on the island."
"Was I right? I'm sorry, I'm forgetful."
"----"
Gustav silently rubs his finger between his own eyebrows as the fake Cecilus replies matter-of-factly.
And so, the man much closer to the sky than Subaru and the others stared at the ceiling, mumbling to himself, "My day job is to keep order, I don't mix public and private......".
He is not sure what the relationship is with the fake Cecilus, but they are probably giving him a very hard time.
Sorry Gustav, but he was a little relieved to find that out.
"I wasn't the only one who got pushed around by Cessy."
"I'm sorry to hear that you've been pushed around like this. I think I've given you all the explanations you want, the people you want to meet, and the places you want to go."
"Yeah, well, I said too much. The explanation was a lot of detours, and the people I was allowed to meet with weren't the people I wanted to meet with, and they dented me by telling me I couldn't go where I wanted."
Surely there is no malice in the fake cecilus, so there is no point in saying that.
When Subaru told him so, the fake Cecilus puckered his lips in dissatisfaction and said, "Tsk". Gustav turned his head toward Subaru again, as if he had successfully dealt with his dissatisfaction.
And then--,
"Boy, if you're awake, let's talk again."
"I'd be happy to let you do that, sir. I, too, would have loved to hear from someone else. With the great people on this island, it would be great."
"Hm."
As Subaru speaks, careful with his words, Gustav touches his chin with his two right hands.
He has a stern appearance, but his speech and appearance are very quiet and calm, and there is an intelligent light in his eyes, which gives him the impression that he has a shaggy head, similar to Zikr.
In other words, they represent adults who can talk.
As if to confirm Subaru's expectations, Gustav nodded deeply and gravely.
"My name is Gustav Morello, and I have been entrusted by His Excellency Emperor Vincent of Vollachia, the 77th Emperor of the Holy Vollachian Empire, with the management of this island. Can you tell me your name and affiliation?"
He politely states his position and name and confronts Subaru head-on.
Subaru looked at this fact lightly, then put his hand on his chest and bowed his head.
"Th-thank you for introducing yourself. My name is Natsuki...... Natsuki Schwarz."
"I see. Schwarz."
Subaru was pressured, but he called Gustav by name.
For a moment, he wondered whether to use his real name or a pseudonym and ended up with a somewhat half-hearted answer, but at this point, he should consider it a good performance.
He honestly doesn't know if it is right or wrong to lie to Gustav.
But it is not good for Subaru's real name to spread. The fake Cecilus was not a big deal because it was a fake general, but you never know who in the kingdom is bright about the affairs of the kingdom.
What can be hidden should be hidden. Even if Cecilus, upon hearing Subaru's current alias, had said, "Huh~?" even if he was tilting his head grandly.
"But if you are Natsuki Schwarz, how did Segmunt get you to be Bassu?"
"I think Cessy has his own logic. Would you like to find out for sure?"
"--. No, let's not. Considering the duties entrusted to my day job, I have no time to spend on futile attempts. My day job is not to be a wise man, but I do try to be wise."
Shaking his head, Gustav makes a wise, Subaru-like decision.
It is somewhat annoying to think that this is due to the daily activities of the fake Cecilus, so let's consider that Subaru's daily activities were good here.
Anyway--,
"He was able to answer to my name, and from what I could see, he didn't seem to have any physical problems. According to the healer, you were very weak, but are you aware of it?"
"I think I'm feeling a little bit tired of my fitness...... But thanks for all your, you know, help."
"I have to correct one thing, Schwarz. It was Segmunt there who helped you, not your day job. He has only conditionally agreed to accept you."
"I-I see."
Subaru is about to be stumped by Gustav's reasoned and methodical response.
The way he speaks and the content are not particularly friendly to them, and the tone of his voice is somewhere between cold and emotionless, but his easy-to-understand explanations are genuinely helpful.
Compared to the fake Cecilus, the combination of the amount of statements and the amount of information is far superior.
Even the question he just asked me seemed to be concerned about Subaru's condition when he woke up, and at this rate, he might understand if he talks to him.
Subaru, and Tanza, too, had arrived at this solitary island by mistake.
"Gustav, This girl...... named Tanza and I, and we came here by mistake or something."
"What do you mean, 'Mistake or something'?"
"--! I don't know why that is. But you know we're farther away...... Chaos Flame, right? We were supposed to be in that city!"
According to the fake Cecilus, this island and the Demon City are very far from each other.
That should be enough to make people understand that what happened to Subaru and the others was an emergency situation. It was no ordinary thing to be sent from the capital to this island.
"I know it's a bugger to say this after all the help you've given me, but I can't stay here much longer. I'm sure our people are looking for us! We need to let them know we're safe and join them as soon as we can."
Ideally, he would leave here with Tanza if he could.
It's unknown why both Subaru and Tanza are on the island, but he is sure Yorna is worried about Tanza. Since his original goal was to get Yorna on his side, Abel would not be offended if he did something that made her happy.
Besides, Subaru liked Yorna.
If that kind woman is happy, he thinks it's a good thing.
"So I'm going to get out of here as soon as I--"
"--That's enough. That's enough, Schwarz."
Subaru leaned forward and tried to raise his voice, but a huge palm stopped him. Subaru was silenced by the two right hands thrust in front of his face, and he choked on his words, "Uhh".
Over his right hand, Gustav stroked his chin and head at the same time with his left.
"I understand your point of view. But you must also listen to what I have to say in my day job. That is what is called fairness."
"Fairness......"
"Yes, it's fairness. It's fair, it's rigorous, it's unbiased, it's the absolute truth that is essential to building what we call the...... Order."
Subaru raises his eyebrows when he is interrupted by the assertion and then the words are slowly piled on top of each other.
Fairness or impartiality sounds very leisurely from a position of impatience. But Subaru nodded anyway, knowing that going against Gustav here would not help.
To Subaru's response, Gustav closed one eye and said, "Very well".
"You remember what he said earlier about his day job? That it was Segmunt who saved you, and that he allowed you and her to come ashore only on one condition."
"It's...... yes, I remember, but......"
My attention was on the part that was saved and not so much on the conditions. However, Gustav had indeed told Subaru in a heavy voice.
But what are the conditions? What are the conditions for Subaru and Tanza to be raised to the island?
"Schwarz, you have the proper judgment, you have knowledge that you are comfortable with receiving, you have the education to use honorifics in your day job, you have an evaluation of health based on the healer's diagnosis, and you have the fact that you yourself are not ailing from your self-reported physical condition. Any objections?"
"I'm giddy when you say it all at once, but...... I probably can't argue with that."
"Perhaps is a somewhat unpersuasive opinion. Is there or is there not?"
"--. I have no objection."
Gustav's gaze does not allow Subaru to give a half answer.
Overwhelmed by this, he looked back at his opponent, and his gaze was bounced back by Gustav's frightening, stone-faced face, which did not change the color of his eyes or the expression on his face.
Unilaterally, the conversation is being led by Gustav.
This makes the unpleasant feeling grow louder, but he can't come up with a quick response. As usual, Subaru has no information. In other words, there are no options.
On behalf of Subaru--,
"You see, I told you. I told you that Bassu is a good fit for Gustav's eyes. We're on schedule, so what else is there to say?"
"But the girl is not awake."
"I'm sure there's a way to make it work with the Governor General's authority or something."
"Yes. As long as the girl does not wake up, we shall begin with one less than stipulated."
"Oh my God, did you just bring up some nonsense upon yourself!?"
The fake Cecilus is the one who talks with Gustav, leaving the bewildered Subaru in the dark.
He could not see the main content of that conversation, but he could read that it was about Subaru and Tanza and that the fake Cecilus did not carry the conversation well.
Moreover, he has a feeling that it is not the fake Cecilus himself who will pay the bill for his failure.
"I'm sorry, Bassu. It seems that I can only help you up to this point. The rest you will have to do on your own. I'm sure you can do it!"
"Wa-wait, wait, wait! The flow of the conversation is too creepy! What kind of exchange was that? Gustav! The terms of our stay on the island... ....."
"--Joining 'Sparka'."
"Spar......?"
Subaru frowned as the unfamiliar word, which he had never heard of, was dropped from on high.
If he says he is going to participate, then this "Sparka" must be some kind of event or something. He has a bad feeling about this event being held on this solitary island.
To begin with, Al said that life on the Gladiator Island was hard and painful.
Events there are bound to be scary or painful.
"Wait, Gustav! Why do we have to go out to Sparka! We didn't come to this island by ourselves!"
"Prisoners of war, slaves, criminals...... the circumstances of those who land in this Ginunhive vary, but few come willingly. And the role of my day job is only to lay down order on this Gladiator Island, full of outlaws, and to do my duty to the best of my ability for the sake of His Excellency's wishes."
"His Excellency......, what does the emperor want?"
"--To transform this Gladiator Island into the most meaningful and bloody place in the empire."
It was such a terribly thirsty declaration that Subaru's blood ran cold from the bite.
The color of Gustav's eyes, his mannerisms, they seemed cold and unwavering, but he was wrong. There were more appropriate words to describe Gustav.
It was as if, yes, as if they were robots, inorganic and cold.
Gustav called Subaru "Schwarz", who gasped and stiffened at the change in his impression.
Then he looked down at Subaru, who was much smaller than he was.
"Call me 'Emperor'. Once a caution, twice a warning, never a third."
"......"
"And I also want to remind you that I will not allow you to refuse to join Sparka. If you refuse to participate in Sparka, you and the girl will suffer the fate you deserve."
"......ugh"
"We reject Segmunt's plea and deny him permission to come ashore. --The only thing that will happen to him is that he will fall prey to the aquatic monsters that live in the lake waters."
Easily and without any hesitation, Gustav picked Subaru's future options.
A big man clearly tells his child partner that if she refuses, he will have her die. This is what it means to be bloodless and tearless, and it makes him want to curse his own bad luck that he can only suffer hardship even when he is small.
Aren't they usually more gentle with children?
Or, in the Vollachian empire, where the strong are the greatest, does it go unscathed when children are killed one after another because they are weak?
"If so, fuck that country......"
"We will allow that abuse, though the intent is unclear. If you shut down all speech, dissatisfaction will build up. The seeds of great folly grow in the seedbed of discontent, watered by animosity."
Shaking his head loosely to the side, Gustav grabbed Subaru's shoulder as he gritted his teeth.
Subaru was caught in a palm that could easily grasp his head, and he could not resist. He thought about forcibly resisting and getting out of here, but--,
"I don't recommend that approach, Bassu. You will probably end up in worse trouble. This is not so much a request from an old woman as it is a request from a man who feels that it would be boring to do so."
"Thanks for expressing your sentiments. Screw you, Cessy."
"I saved him, but I was told I was being terrible. However, I don't understand Bassu's desire to say so, so I won't get angry at him."
The entrance is casually blocked by the fake Cecilus, and Subaru is deprived of the last bit of resistance.
In the end, when he tried to express his indignation at the situation to the false Cecilus, whose friend or foe was not clear, in dirty words, his response was a push in the arm, and he got no response.
Anyway, Subaru is forced to participate in an event called "Sparka", which is not a good idea.
If you refuse, they'll feed you to the fishes, and if you do what they say, they'll--,
"Prove your credentials, and the Governor General will be responsible to receive you as a swordsman."
"......That, would be awesome."
If it works, they are slaves, and if it doesn't, they are fish food.
He said that he have never had anything good happen to him since he got smaller, but he stands corrected on that.
--Not a single good thing has happened since he came to this Vollachian Empire.
"......I hate the Vollachian Empire."
Subaru's hateful grudge was small, quiet and thin, as if he was taking care of Tanza, who was still sleeping.
And then--,
△▼△▼△▼△
--The heat was felt all over the venue.
The eerie thing is that despite the number of gazes that pour in, there is little bustle.
It is a rare experience of quiet excitement or madness, or if it should be said, of loud silence.
However, Subaru does not have the luxury of being angry or complaining about it.
"Shit, shit...... you gotta be kidding me, this sucks......!"
"I'll do it, I'll do it......"
"Shut up! You will obey my commands and you will not die! And you will not have to die!"
Cutting through the noisy silence are three men in the immediate vicinity of Subaru.
Each of them is a rock-skinned skalengecked man, a bald-headed man with many tattoos carved on his body, and a well-faceted young man with long, rust-colored hair.
They all come from different backgrounds and races, but they all have one thing in common.
That is, not having Subaru in the head count and the life-threatening tension in their eyes.
And if this continues, it is that the birthdays may be different, but the dates of death will be the same.
"--Gentlemen, first of all, congratulations on landing on this island. Emperor Vincent of Vollachia in the Imperial City must be very pleased. As the viceroy who has been personally entrusted by the Emperor with the management of the Gladiator Island, I give you a test of honor."
He was Gustav Morello, who looked down on the gladiatorial arena from a special seat atop a high wall - the governor of the Gladiator Island Ginunhive, and the man in charge of the entertainment here.
And then, under Gustav's feet - as the fence of the passageway that sends the warriors to the gladiatorial arena opens, a horrifying apparition slowly, slowly emerges from the darkness.
A lion's face with red eyes and four legs like a hoofed deer. With twisted horns and tusks and a frighteningly long tail, his huge body makes even the giant Gustav look small.
Spilling drool and snarls from its mouth, the demonic beast - no, here it is called a gladiatorial beast, a fearsome enemy that comes lumbering in.
That is exactly who Subaru and the other three must confront--,
"--Prove your prestige as a strong imperial citizen, as the Emperor desires!"
--He was an examiner for the "Sparka", a barbaric test to become a gladiator.
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