﻿\setgamedatatitle("Shuka's Circumstances 4")

\text
It's nothing new for military officers to clash with each
other.
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There were plenty of times when military councils made no
progress at all.
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But today was different. And it would probably stay that way
from now on.
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\text("Wenjin")
So, in the end, Lusario can't stand up to the Demon Lord...
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\text("Military Officer")
They were never the type to be good at war. Don't expect
much from them.
\endtext

\text("Civil Official")
So, what do we do then?
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\text("Wenjin")
Looks like we'll have to crush them ourselves.
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\text("Military Officer")
Yeah.
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\text
Most of the military officers nodded in agreement with
Wenjin's words.
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\text
There were no Diabolica officers here.
\endtext

\text
The recent attempted rebellion had a strong impact even on
officers who had nothing to do with it.

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\text
Even Diabolica officers who were uninvolved were detained―

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As a result, there wasn't a single Diabolica left in the
military.
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The cause of the conflict was gone.
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And the human officers, having seen what happens when you go
up against the civil officials, couldn't act too boldly.

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So, there were no more clashes between the bureaucrats.
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\text
In effect, the civil officials had seized power.

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\text("Honju")
Even so, what do you propose? You must have some kind of
plan, right?
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\text("Wenjin")
W-We can come up with something later! Anyway, war is the
job of the military!
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\text
Honju almost let out a sigh.

\endtext

\text
You couldn't trust an idiot like this with military command,
even if you died.
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\text("Two-Shin")
―Magahime-sama, may I make a suggestion?

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\text("Magahime")
...What is it?
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\text
Without meeting Two-Shin's eyes, Magahime replied curtly.

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\text("Two-Shin")
At this rate, we won't be able to avoid a fight with the
Demon Lord's army.
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\text("Magahime")
............
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\text("Two-Shin")
Just like with Hados, they'll seize the enemy soldiers... In
the worst case, not just Lusario but Kiros will meet the
same fate.
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\text("Two-Shin")
Even if that doesn't happen, we'll still have to face a
combined force of Hados, Lusario... and the Demon Lord's
army.
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\text("Magahime")
And?
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\text("Two-Shin")
At this rate, Shuka will lose to the Demon Lord's army.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...Honju, what do you think?
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\text("Honju")
At the very least, if Kiros falls into the Demon Lord's
hands, our defeat is certain.
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\text("Magahime")
...I see.
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\text("Honju")
...?
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\text("Two-Shin")
...That's why, at the very least, we must crush Kiros.

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\text("Magahime")
You're still going on about that...?
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\text("Two-Shin")
Yes. However, I want you to leave the attack on Kiros to me.

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\text("Two-Shin")
I'll also select the strike team myself and keep it to a
minimum.
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\text("Honju")
...Are you planning to assassinate the Queen of Kiros?
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\text("Two-Shin")
Of course not. Right now, Kiros is overflowing with
dissatisfaction toward the military and poverty. All I
intend to do is ignite that.
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\text("Military Officer")
...You mean to destroy Kiros from within?
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\text
The military and civil officers groaned at Two-Shin's words.
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\text
But both Honju... and Magahime were glaring at Two-Shin with
grim expressions.
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\text
What flashed through both their minds was the military purge
in Diabolica.
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\text
This man was proposing to do the same thing all over again.

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\text("Two-Shin")
Your permission, Magahime-sama.
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\text("Magahime")
...We can't afford to choose our methods, can we?
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\text("Honju")
............
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They didn't like Two-Shin.
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\text
But personal feelings can't protect the people.

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\text("Magahime")
However, there are conditions.
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\text("Two-Shin")
What are they?
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\text("Magahime")
If the Demon Lord's army loses, I won't allow it. No more
needless bloodshed.
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\text("Two-Shin")
...As you wish.
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\text
Two-Shin smirked inwardly.
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\text
Just as expected. And almost certainly, Lusario will fall to
the Demon Lord's army.

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\text
After that, Kiros will be next.
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\text
Everything is in my hands―just as planned.
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\text("Magahime")
...Well then, that's it for today.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
............
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\text
As Magahime said that, the bureaucrats followed after her.

\endtext

\text
Now that their business was done, there was no need to
linger.
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\text
No, more than anything, she just wanted to get away from
Two-Shin as quickly as possible.
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\text
Ever since then, that man's eyes had changed.
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\text
It wasn't anything unusual. She was well aware that some of
the soldiers saw her as a woman.

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\text
That was simply because they were drawn to her charm. She
even found it somewhat pleasant.
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But Two-Shin's gaze sent chills down her spine. Just
remembering it made her skin crawl.
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\text("Magahime")
...Haa.
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\text
She let out a sigh and relaxed her body. At least in this
moment, she could forget all the good and bad things.

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―If only there weren't any intruders, that is.
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\text("Honju")
Magahime-sama, may I have a moment?
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\text("Magahime")
No, you may not. Leave it for later... I'm tired...

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\text("Honju")
...Did something happen?
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\text("Magahime")
Nothing happened. Just go somewhere else.
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\text("Honju")
...Excuse me.
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\text
Once Honju's presence faded beyond the door, Magahime
finally let out a real sigh of relief.
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\text
To begin with, Honju shouldn't have any time to be worrying
about her.
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\text
With Diabolica gone from the army, Shuka was bound to change
drastically.

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\text
But that wasn't the change Magahime had hoped for. In fact,
it was something that shouldn't happen.
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\text
As expected, changing things from the inside is impossible.
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\text("Magahime")
...The Demon Lord's army, huh.
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\text
As if clinging to hope, Magahime muttered those words.

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\text("Two-Shin")
You heard everything, didn't you?
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\text("Spy")
Of course. Leave the people of Kiros to us.

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\text
No one could be seen anywhere, but the voice definitely
reached Two-Shin.
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\text
He couldn't trust them. But since they answered that way,
they'd deliver results.

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That much, at least, he could count on.
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\text("Wenjin")
This is the end for Kiros, then.
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\text("Two-Shin")
Yeah... Everything's on schedule. Just a little longer...

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