﻿\setgamedatatitle("Shuka\nConquest of the Second City, Nantai")

\text("Margaretta")
Caym, Risbell, I've brought them.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Good work.
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
............
\endtext

\text
After the capture of Nantai, the soldiers who had been in
the detention center were brought before Caym.
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
The reason we spared your lives and brought you here is
because we have some questions for you.
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
...What do you want to know?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Where were you planning to take all those Diabolica you
gathered?
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Answer honestly. Otherwise, things are gonna get rough for
you.
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
I-If I answer, you'll let us go, right?
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
If you answer honestly, yes.
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
...Hakusha. There's the biggest detention center in Shuka
there.
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
All the Diabolica in this country are being held there...
along with the military officers.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Military officers too? Why?

\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
Shuka is a human nation. Anyone who sides with the
Diabolica...
\endtext

\text("Caym")
That's not what I'm asking. But... hmm. It might be better
to hear it from them directly.

\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Then, what should we do with them... the civil officials? To
be honest, they're not needed in the Demon Lord's army...

\endtext

\text("Caym")
Leave them. They're not worth recruiting or killing.

\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
...
\endtext

\text
In other words, they were being called useless.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
A human nation, huh... Reminds me of Giacomo.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
Yeah, he used to say similar things.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Shuka was his backer, after all. Figures.

\endtext

\text
However, Margaretta glanced at the civil officials.

\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
Caym. Are you sure it's really okay to just leave these
guys?
\endtext

\text
Margaretta hefted her axe again and checked with Caym.

\endtext

\text
She was probably saying that if he gave the order, she'd
take care of them...
\endtext

\text
Since their next target was the Hakusha detention center,
even the soldiers who escaped would have realized it by now.
\endtext

\text
That information would reach not only Magahime, but also
Tsushin.
\endtext

\text("Caym")
Yeah, it's fine. In fact, let them go. And tell your king
about my exploits.

\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
Why would you do that...?
\endtext

\text("Caym")
What, it's just bragging and a little harassment. Now, get
lost, go disappear somewhere.
\endtext

\text
They didn't understand the Demon Lord's intentions, but if
it meant they could live, that was all that mattered.

\endtext

\text
Thinking that, the soldiers left the scene.

\endtext

\text
And then, the girl with a pouty mouth approached the
remaining Caym.
\endtext

\text("Margaretta")
...So, did you have some plan in mind letting the enemy
soldiers go unconditionally?
\endtext

\text("Risbell")
Surely, it wasn't really just for bragging and harassment,
was it?
\endtext

\text
Even with the two pressing him, Caym just grinned without
showing any sign of discomfort.

\endtext

\text("Caym")
That's most of it. Besides, if this puts a stop to the
detainment at Hakusha, I won't complain.

\endtext

\text
That really was just a side benefit, though.
\endtext

\text("Agri")
............
\endtext

\text("Caym")
(Hmm...?)
\endtext

\text
No one but Caym noticed Agri standing nearby, lost in
thought with a gloomy expression.

\endtext

\text
....................
\endtext

\text
............
\endtext

\text
......
\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 1")
...That concludes the fall of Nantai. I am sorry. This
happened because we were not strong enough...

\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
............
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
............
\endtext

\text
Hearing the report from the soldier who returned safely from
Nantai, Magahime and Tsushin each showed completely
different emotions.
\endtext

\text
That was exactly as Caym had intended.
\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
...No, the fact that you returned safely is something to be
glad about. You must be tired, so get some rest first.

\endtext

\text("Shuka Soldier 2")
―Yes, sir.
\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
(How dare you mock us like this. Damn demon scum...!)

\endtext

\text
Right now, in this situation, they couldn't afford to detain
Diabolica at Hakusha.
\endtext

\text
If Hakusha were to fall, those people would come under the
protection of the Demon Lord's army.
\endtext

\text
Worst case, they might even join the Demon Lord's forces.
That would just be handing them more power.
\endtext

\text
Thinking that far, Tsushin realized the Demon Lord had used
those soldiers to deliberately reveal his next target.
\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
(To think I'd have to act according to that lowly demon's
plan...)
\endtext

\text
Magahime had reached the same conclusion as Tsushin.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
(He... helped them, didn't he...?)
\endtext

\text
Did he help them because they're the same kind? Even if
that's the case, would he really just leave the Shuka
soldiers unharmed?
\endtext

\text
And there was something else even more surprising.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
But I don't get it. He freed the prisoners, occupied Nantai
without killing anyone... and even treated enemy soldiers.

\endtext

\text
That was what was truly astonishing.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Yeah... If what that official said is true, maybe the same
could be said for Toujin... and even Lusario.

\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
Even if that's true, so what?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
The Demon Lord is pretty rational. Maybe not peace... but at
least a ceasefire could be possible.

\endtext

\text("Wenjin")
What are you talking about! He could just be pretending!
Besides, you can't reason with demons!

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...Is that so?
\endtext

\text
Caym's face floated through her mind. He's an idiot, but he
doesn't seem like a demon at all.
\endtext

\text
If anything, his actions in Nantai actually make sense.

\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
The fact remains that Shuka has been occupied, and it was
the Demon Lord's army that started this.

\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
Even if we could talk, there's no guarantee they'd agree to
a ceasefire.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
............
\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
...However, if we know the enemy's objective, it makes
things easier for us.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
The Demon Lord's target is the detention center. ...If
that's the case, that's where we set the trap.
\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
According to reports, the Demon Lord often goes out on
reconnaissance himself. He might show up at the detention
center too.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
(I see... That's why he came to Shinrenga back then.)

\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
Shall we use the prisoners as bait? If we blow up the whole
facility, we won't even have to bother with executions.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
...My men are in there too. And civilians would get caught
up in it as well.
\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
If it's for the greater good, it's a worthy sacrifice. As
for the traitors, they deserve to die.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
For the greater good, huh. ...Are you seriously saying that?

\endtext

\text
That statement stung Honju more than how his own men were
being treated.

\endtext

\text
Sacrificing civilians is something no soldier should ever
do.
\endtext

\text
But even that exchange was unbearably irritating to
Magahime.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Enough. Whatever the case, I won't allow something like
that.
\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
Magahime-sama, if we limit our options...
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
I'm the one who decides. Not you. Got it?

\endtext

\text("Tsushin")
............
\endtext

\text("Honju")
............
\endtext

\text
Magahime herself was surprised at how forceful her words had
been, enough to silence everyone.
\endtext

\text
But if she hadn't done that, things would never have settled
down here.
\endtext

\text
As long as the military and civil officials kept butting
heads, things were bound to get tense.

\endtext

\text
................
\endtext

\text
..........
\endtext

\text
......
\endtext

\text
...In the end, the war council ended with that heavy
atmosphere still hanging over them.
\endtext

\text
All the decisions were left to Magahime, and she pressed on
with an iron will that brooked no objections.

\endtext

\text
No one complained, but that was only because of the
relationship between king and vassals―nothing more.

\endtext

\text
If, for example, there had been even a little trust between
them, things might have been different.

\endtext

\text
Or maybe, if Magahime had tried to get closer to them, it
might have helped a little―but―

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...There's no way I could do that. I can't let myself become
like them.

\endtext

\text
The last thing she wanted was to end up as corrupt as the
bureaucrats, even as their king.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
Magahime-sama, may I come in?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...Go ahead. The door's unlocked.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
Excuse me. ...You finally let me in.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
How many times does this make now? ...You're really
persistent, you know.
\endtext

\text
Lately, Honju would always come by like this after the war
council ended.
\endtext

\text
Ever since he yelled at Wenjin, he's been coming every day.

\endtext

\text
Tonight was the first time she'd actually invited him
inside.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
Did you need something?
\endtext

\text("Honju")
No... It's just, you seemed to be pushing yourself lately. I
was a little worried.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...I'm not pushing myself.
\endtext

\text
It was the first time anyone had worried about her.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
............
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
What? If you have something to say, just say it.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
...No. I just wanted to apologize for earlier.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...If you're going to apologize, then stop all the bickering
already.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
I'm not telling you to be friends. I'm telling you to do
what's best for Shuka.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
Sorry... Is that why you don't trust us?


\endtext

\text("Magahime")
............
\endtext

\text("Honju")
...I suppose so. Magahime-sama, you've been watching us
since you were a child. ...Of course you can't trust us.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
Even so, could you trust us now? I want to protect this
country too. My men feel the same way.

\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...So you're telling me to trust you? There's no way I could
do that.
\endtext

\text("Honju")
............
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
If we're done talking, then leave.
\endtext

\text
Magahime turned her back to Honju. It was an obvious
rejection.
\endtext

\text
Honju knew it would come to this. He knew, but even so, if
he didn't put it into words, it would never reach her.

\endtext

\text("Honju")
...No matter what happens, we are on your side,
Magahime-sama. Please remember that, at least.

\endtext

\text
With a bang, the door closed, and Honju's presence
disappeared.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
There's no way I could ever trust you.
\endtext

\text
After all this time, there was no way she could just nod and
accept that.
\endtext

\text
Knowing what Magahime had seen from the bureaucrats until
now, he had some nerve to say that.
\endtext

\text
...But maybe, just maybe, he really did care about Magahime
and Shuka.
\endtext

\text
At least, more than Tsushin ever did.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...Right now, I need to focus on Caym.

\endtext

\text
Despite her thoughts, Magahime decided to think about Caym
instead.
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
He's coming to Hakusha... to help the Diabolica.

\endtext

\text
Before that, maybe I should go check on the detention
center.
\endtext

\text
I want to hear what the officers have to say... but more
than anything, I'm worried about the detainees.

\endtext

\text
I've strictly ordered that they not be harmed, but are they
really safe?
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
(...If the worst happens, with my order, the Diabolica
should be released...)
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
(...Maybe it would be best to have the Demon Lord's army
shelter them once they're free.)
\endtext

\text
Even as she thought that―
\endtext

\text("Magahime")
...I wonder if I'll ever see them again.
\endtext

\text
Purely. Regardless of sides, Magahime simply wished to see
them again.

\endtext