Chapter 3 - Sacrifice/Sacrificial
Part 1
National Library of Elchea.
Steph was in the kitchen that Jibril had arbitrarily installed in there.
"......Maybe it would have been better if they had just stayed shut ins in the
After retaking the library, Sora and Shiro had holed themselves up in there
Whilst taking care of internal affairs, Steph had to come to the library to
"Why do I have to go this far......I'm not a tea set, you know?"
Her mind would flash back to that scene after the fight with Jibril.
--Kyun......
Crying and burying her head in the wall had become a daily routine for Steph.
"Ah, Dora-chan. Thanks for your work."
The door had silently been opened, and Jibrilstood there as ifshe had been
"A message from master."
"Uh--"There are things such as sugar and butter in Jibril's kitchen. Well, it
message."
She could use sugar...and butter?
"Wait, isn't that just an indirect order to make sweets! How far must I be
Bangbangbang.
As Jibrilspoke, she took out a note.
keen on."
As Jibril eyed her with interest, Steph frantically waved her hands as her face
"It's not--this is......"
"Y, yeah, that's right! Not to mention, he totally tricked me into it!!
Steph jumped on the chance to excuse her own actions.
"I wouldn't know. I'm rather ignorant of Imanity romantic feelings. Sorry
"Eh, is, is that so?"
that is sufficient. The subtleties of these romantic feelings which Imanity has
Master--that being Sora.
"Eh, ah......uhm, by love......do you mean between master and servant?"
love?"
anxious when you're not with them, things like th......huh?"
her fallfor him, Sora.
what she felt for Sora.
As her face burned even redder, she quickly said,
any such experience--"
just smiled.
"Ah, right......thank you for your--huh?"
The moment she had looked away......where to?
The recipe of the cake Sora was interested in, now upon Steph's desk,
"Oh, well......if I can use sugar, there are sweets I'd like to make myself. It's
that's it. Incidental, it's just incidental."
"Hm......now I just have to find where everything is......"
"Hiiyaaa!?"
"The necessary cooking utensils are over there. Dishes are there. Ingredients
from Avant Heim, so I've summarised the instructions for its use in your
"Eh, ah, yes......you're very gracious, thank you, very much."
"It's fine, everything is for the master. Excuse me."
For the master......at those words, Steph felt uneasy.
She shook her head.
me!!"
As he stroked her head--now the words were different.
"That's・not・it!"
"I said that's not the case alreadyyyyyyyyyyy!"
Outside the door was Jibril.
request."
For Jibril who knew little about the emotional workings of Imanity, she
"If the order had been for just a moment, then the effect should have lasted
me', why is Dora-chan displaying more permanent effects? Fufu, curious
Smiling slyly, Jibril disappeared into the air.
Having fainted at the sight of her own blood, the preparations took a
Part 2
Completely recovered from her faint, she trudged back with tea and cakes for
"Fufufu, it's perfect this time, you know?"
excited.
herself, she headed towards the room in the very back of the library. And
"For some reason I'm getting a sense of deja vu from this."
there was no one there.......she thought.
"So, Jibril-kun."
"Won't you tell me about the kemonomimi kingdom I intend to conquer, the
......A man you really didn't want to believe held the fate of Imanity in his
"Certainly. The Eastern Union is a nation with complex circumstances."
'Werebeasts'.
by their physicalfeatures there were countless different tribes.
negotiated peace, a small country of islands with little uniformity.
a century, and now they had merged into a gigantic maritime nation counted
"About the different physical characteristics......does that mean there are
Jibrilreplied to Sora's question with a straight face.
not believe the name Werebeast was given to them merely because of their
the physical limit; some are even able to read thoughts. Those with that
"Hm, well, I get the general idea--now then."
about taking down the Eastern Union!"
"As unfortunate as it is master, I think that is [impossible]."
Sora master, Jibril.
yourself!? It was allfor this perfect plan which met both my personal and the
just what is this you're saying!"
affairs, Jibril maintained her stance.
are able to win against the Eastern Union."
book.
"Hou......are you implying that 『 』 would lose?"
be, I cannot meet your expectations."
"I too have once gone to challenge the Eastern Union--and [lost]."
"......Seriously? Eh, at shiratori?"
......There's a game capable of beating this eccentric, all-rounded peak
"It is probably the game which they specified."
"In addition, the Elves--Elven Gard, have officially challenged the Eastern
every time."
More importantly however--
He also deduced why Jibril had said it was [impossible].
If that really was the case--then it certainly explained things.
one of the conditions?"
Jibril bowed her head respectfully and answered.
what the game was or is."
ability to read the heart.
memories.
strategies for the next time would also be impossible.
--Thinking things over, however, there were some things which stuck out.
Elven Gard.
events of the King Selection games.
would certainly have lost.
breached two or three times.
them meant--
Like what Elven Gard had attempted to do with Elchea.
because they were already the puppet government ofsomeone else.
was--"
"......As embarrassing as it is, that's true."
Without knowing the game and being unable to bluff, there were absolutely no
Against Imanity who could count only upon plans and cunning as their sole
--However, there was still a snag.
'prepared'."
contents of the game.
advantage.
attacking you]."
In the world Sora came from, an analogy would be 'nuclear deterrence'.
defeat.
Shiro predicted the Eastern Union's stance from the results of their policy.
"Shiro, this is why you lose to Onii-chan in strategy games even though you're
If they had an 'ace in the hole' capable of laying low both the Elves and the
Because deliberately showing an opening, letting them use their tricks, and
"......Nii, your......playing, style......annoying."
come up with annoying, I'll collapse, you know!?"
"......A country, which suddenly expanded, 50 years......having a, nonaggressive
"R-right?"
These siblings truly are strange, Jibril thought as she tilted her head.
the Eastern Union--"
"Or rather, there was actually......just one country."
"Eh, what, who?"
Shiro possibly already knew from reading one ofJibril's books, but Sora was
(--Ah, this is a pretty terrible development.)
room.
"Hau!?"
"Now then, everyone, please hold on to me."
As they spoke, both Sora and Shiro took hold ofJibril's clothes.
The moment Jibril uttered those words.
instance.
imagination?
splendid.
"Wait, wait up, Jibril, before that--what did you do!?"
Having just been thrown up incredibly high into thin air, Sora naturally sought
However Jibrilreplied in a bewildered manner.
Speaking of [teleportation] as if it were nothing, Sora understood,
So she was a teleporter. It was something he had understood conceptually,
"......Just how far can you shift?"
[traveled back to indefinitely]."
mysteries of this world.
"......Who knows......?"
and beings like Jibril are pure hax, just how were they fought?
"......That is a mystery of Imanity's history......"
"Wasn't it simply because no one bothered to spare Imanity so much as a
Jibril answered with a broad smile.
old gods. It took around 50 of us Flugel to take on a dragon, and 200 to
......The race which needed a supernova to finally kill, could teleport around,
They had fought monsters which even 200 of them could not defeat.
"--Why did this world not keep its originalform?"
"That answer lies with the [sole surviving god and default victor]."
"More importantly, please look over there."
Looking carefully from the sky, they were near the border of Elchea.
A...majestic...tower.
"......Uhm, what's that......[high building]?"
"......Huge."
It was just barely possible to make out the foundations.
"Dora-chan, please go ahead and explain."
Steph spoke.
"............Hou, the Eastern Union."
"T-to be accurate, it's--the site of our [former] Royal Palace."
Sora trained his eyes on Steph.
"M-my grandfather, bet...the Royal Palace."
His ruthless sister uttered one word.
Both Sora and Shiro were at a loss for words, and Jibril wore a pleasant
"W-why are you looking at me with those eyes!"
"Uguuu......"
"So, why was the palace taken by the Eastern Union?"
"---Hah?"
His sister had to explain the information she had memorized.
times]......and, lost."
'maritime nation'--"
dearth of resources not found in the marine environment.
advanced civilization.
archipelago.
however.
At that, Shiro shook her head.
"Master, have you forgotten? The sole country which challenged the Eastern
"......The challenger, was......[Elchea]......"
"First was that mountain. Then that plain, then......and so on and so forth, until
is as you see now."
"Nonono, wait, back then that was the center of the country?"
"Are you kidding me? He bet the country away eight times? Against
stupid. Please stop with the jokes--"
"Wait, wait a minute? Then Elchea's territory was over twice what it is now?"
Sora placed a hand to his brow as Steph became silent.
"I am sorry, are you afraid of heights?"
Part 3
Sora sat cross-legged upon the table, cradling his head.
Perched in his lap, Shiro looked at Sora anxiously.
"......Ahh, my bad, Shiro, I was just in despair for a bit."
speaking.
consider whether he was an alcoholic or something as well....."
"T-that's so rude!!"
"Earlier, didn't you say what my grandfather did wasn't wrong!!"
"--Just how do I cover for a guy who threw away half the country in futile
Sora pointed out the window in the direction of the 'dispossessed territory'.
your grandfather had been able to keep betting like those moron nobles who
today?"
Perhaps unable to stop now that he had started, Sora just kept going.
that if he tried enough he'd definitely win someday......the opponent was a
Compared to personal games, [national warfare] was on a completely
One entrusted with full authority, responsible for the lives of others, thus
That was national warfare--[territorial gambling].
possessed; [total war].
"Blaming it on drink may be one of the kinder interpretations here......"
trembling.
And yet--lifting her head, she cried out.
anything that would affect his thinking! Unlike you two, he was a man of
That admirable person had brought them to this, however.
gladly be abnormal any day."
Shaking, yet unable to refute Sora's words, Steph ran from the room with
Looking at her retreating back, Shiro spoke.
"......After showing me something like that, just how was I supposed to
The tension from earlier evaporated.
to have been completely turned off.
They finally noticed the tea and sweets Steph had placed on the table earlier.
"......De, licious......♪"
reluctantly picked one up too.
Sweet, yet not overbearingly so, and fluffy.
eclipsed those by far.
He imagined her figure in the kitchen, struggling even to make the arrangement
Shiro stared at Sora. Jibril merely closed her eyes, awaiting instructions.
"...................Ahhhhhhhhhhh----fine I get it, [I'll try]!"
Elchea royal palace, former king's bedroom.
courtyard, returning the bedroom to Steph.
Steph lay sobbing.
Lying face down, Steph wet the pillows with her tears.
She squeezed the key she always carried on her and recalled her grandfather.
"Grandfather, what is this key?"
"Why? What is it for?"
"Precious? Ah, father mentioned that."
"W, waitwaitwait, Stephanie! That's totally different!"
"Hope......? Of what?"
"Really!?"
"One day, when you meet the ones who you believe from your heart you can
.........................
She had received this key from her grandfather two years ago as his death
She still didn't know what it was for, but she had never let it go.
--Sora. Him. The one who had insulted her grandfather.
"Dora-chan, do you have a moment?"
Jibrilsuddenly appeared out of thin air to peek at her from the bedside.
"W-w-w-w-what the heck!? This is trespassing, you know!?"
No, that's not the problem here.
"--Hah? From now? Just when--"
She simply bowed and continued at her own pace.
What you will do is likewise up to you."
......The thought processes of the Flugelreally are different from those of
Stillrather confused, Steph nonetheless thought over Jibril's words.
"......Don't joke around, after that, how could I forgive him!"
Yet the steady ticking of the clock in the room made her suddenly aware of
grandfather. The one whom Sora had insulted so.
remembered them now.
Throwing off the blankets, Steph got out of bed.
Elchea national library.
Sora and the others were, as usual, in the back room.
slightly.
"Master, it's about time you rest......"
Flipping through a book, without taking his eyes off the map, Sora answered
Jibrilspoke as she drew a blanket over Shiro, sleeping huddled in Sora's lap.
king."
away.
the Flugel.
Showing no signs of noticing anything, Sora replied in an unhappy tone.
"Rather, you're 'finding' one for Dora-chan......wouldn't you say?"
setting about my nekomimi kingdom conquest! That's all!"
"So, what's the anomaly?"
As Jibril laughed in amusement, Sora replied while still looking sour.
memories]?"
be slim.
"Having expanded their territory so much, devoting themselves to defense
"It's natural to think so. The only one who challenged them this decade was
If that was their goal, then they were most successful.
"Well, that's how Imanity is after all ♪"
"I had also worried over that. But something's strange."
"It's not something a 'sensible' person responsible for the lives of millions
It was as if Sora had read her mind.
"Then I examined the continental territory of the Eastern Union."
"To start with, this mountainous alumatite mine......the previous king bet that
According to Jibril's books, the melting point of [alumatite] was 3000
With the metal processing technology Imanity currently possesses, it has no
"Next, these plains. They've become the cornerstone of the Eastern Union's
They were what they are now however due to the Eastern Union's
At the time of the challenges they had been no more than mere [bogs], and
"Third was this coal mine. That's a resource Imanity also cannot utilise.
royal palace, the previous king never once bet [something of value]."
"All of the Eastern Union's continental land--all of it [used to be Elchea's] did
The continental land which the Eastern Union had won.
"......All the continentalresources the Eastern Union needed, had been gotten
"That's just the result. The thing is before all this, the Eastern Union had no
Which meant:
An advanced technological nation like that, even able to utilise resources
A civilisation like that would [absolutely require] continentalresources.
determined by games.
situation.
Eastern Union's coastal cities'."
It was a good bet.
able to press for more.
Doling out land useless to Imanity a little at a time.
Why--did the Eastern Union persist with its disadvantageous amnesia.
Why--.......no wait. Wrong.
Consider the reverse.
they did.
things of little value.
Why eight?
Sora came up with a single hypothesis.
Spreading out the map and the accompanying figures, he collated the data he
He stared at the borders spanning many years, and rapidly confirmed his
It was still a theory full of holes, yet worth considering nonetheless.
How had he avoided losing his memories.
As Sora was in the middle of thinking.
"Master. Master, your classification certainly is 'Imanity'."
Still deep in thought, Sora looked at Jibril who had interrupted his thinking.
She said this euphemistically to Sora, who was trying to come up with a
These words were as far as she could go speaking as a servant to her master.
But Sora spoke without hesitation.
those guys are--incomprehensible."
"Trying to understand that is my 'duty'."
"Jibril, it's alright to speak freely."
in [the Imanity of this world] who from your perspective, mentally and
right?"
......That was exactly it.
put away by blaming it on Imanity's behaviour in general.
However the reason Jibrilfollowed them was because they were not [lower
Sora and Shiro were two beings who broke the mold of all common sense.
"The answer is quite simple--I don't believe in [humanity]."
Both Jibril, and Steph listening in outside, couldn't believe their ears.
from Imanity in this world, but actually nothing is different back where we
Sora's face as he spoke those self-mocking words was--......in various ways,
--That world of the past, covered in optic fibre.
and cultured wisdom.
As for why......all pointed towards that wherever they were, humans were
"......Humans are shit. Even if the world changes, that never will."
--There was no way she could entrust her grandfather's key to Sora after all.
Thinking so, Steph began to move away.
--But Sora's words did not stop.
"The reason is--her."
Packing so much information into her little head, she must have been
"If humans were all useless trash like me, we would have been lost in despair
His expression as he caressed his sister's cheek.
-belonged to a completely different person.
The gentle brother half closed his eyes, as ifstaring at the light.
and fell.
it is through that we learn, that we rise up to possibly reach even the gods;
[genius]."
"Hey, I'm an idiot after all."
"I'm good at observing my own kind. Really, the world is filled with them--
However.
As he stroked the face that lay on his knees.
As if remembering what happened yesterday, Sora's eyes drifted away.
thing she said was, when she heard my name?"
[11]
--Not understanding, Jibrilfrowned.
"A three year old, already juggling multiple languages, saw me who was
meaning the first time we met--it really is laughable isn't it?"
Rather as if in a fever, Sora laughed fearlessly.
What his worthless imagination had cooked up had jumped out to be before
He asked himself, how can she do that.
Completely different, seeing a completely different world; an overwhelming
"And as for me, who had become that [genius]'s 'brother'......"
"Despite how apart we were, I longed. I decided to believe. Even one as
that realm, then I could at least come close."
--As he doesn't believe in himself.
--As he can believe in Shiro.
direction."
"If I'm infinitely foolish enough, then maybe I can one day catch up to my
--A perfect revolution.
Kneeling seiza next to them, Jibril observed with great interest.
Overlooked that at the time, he himself had only been 10 years old.
three year old child, and accepted them.
And then thought of what to do about it.
own path.
them?
"--I see, the [line between genius and stupidity is fine indeed]--those are
Jibril likewise looked overhead.
spoke.
"--Speaking freely......I can't believe it."
But there were those who believed, who dreamed.
for the heavens all the more.
Then they dreamed even higher, even further, until they reached the very stars
Because they are born with nothing, they could yearn--to aim at that which is
--If we don't have it, then we'llfind it.
--If it still can't be obtained, then keep searching until the world's end.
Precisely because of that fact, they are the [proud weak], the proof of
"They're definitely there in humanity, [those who've found it]. Not one of the
Not trying to understand that, would be a sin.
cannot explain it.
"If you don't believe in the 'start' then there can be no 'beginning'. Same for
Laughing so, Sora looked down at the map again.
She produced a magic light in her hand, and lit up Sora's surroundings.
simply follow you until the end. That is all."
Hiding outside the door, listening to that exchange, Steph's mind whirled.
Endlessly maligned as a king, yet her grandfather's back had been so big and
Gentle and warm, the back of a man who ceaselessly believed in people.
Elchea to......"
He was far different from her grandfather, but because of that.
other.
She herself did not know what it was for--but.
Would he praise her......'you chose a good person'.
Creaaak......slowly pushing open the door, Steph saw Jibrilfaintly smiling and
Steph simply--spoke with grim determination.
Part 6
Four people: Steph, Sora, Shiro and Jibril were within.
Having spoken everything she remembered, Steph described the history of
The first words that came in reply.
......And so.
"T-there's no way that's the case! How the heck did you get that from my
"But he was in such a hurry to shut your father up."
"In the [previous world] Shiro and I came from, ero books were something
"......80%, also hid......ero, goods......"
[side dishes] in this world."
"But master, we don't know where the key goes yet......"
here. Without a doubt."
there."
At those words, Steph got up in a hurry and turned around.
"Firstly--the bed is tilted. Shiro fell off after all."
"So if you push the bed and look closely, there really is an incline. Look at the
tilted to the left, meaning the left is heavier, meaning there's something on the
Indifferently.
"Next, the bookshelf on the left. The intervals of the shelves are not uniform.
"Eh, right......th, that's certainly so."
small."
"If you take this as 0, the result is 01, 00, 11, 10. Converting to binary that's
encyclopedia."
"Now the first word on page 1032 is, in the language of Imanity, [lighthouse].
some sort of lighting fixture."
"There's been an indent drawn through that word in the middle, as if with an
As he spoke both Jibril and Steph looked.
"So it's referring to the candles on the left side of the room, specifically the
left which point to related entries. So--"
"Finally, one single arrow to the right points to [harbour] on page 605 as a
He then tilted the candelabra once to the right.
--Within were four dials.
Tagging hands, Shiro turned the dials.
line, intersections......"
"......Perfectly......four, digits......answer, [2642]......"
Sora, as ifshowing off rapid magic tricks, clapped his hands and rushed them
"And with that behold, behind the curtain, one of the blocks of the wall
Shiro some considerable effort, but screw that now. Jibril, if you please."
Jibrilfocused slightly.
Rumble rumble rumble.
Behind that now displaced bookshelf was--
Taking out the key he had obtained from Steph, Sora spoke leisurely.
Too leisurely.
This must have been a mechanism the previous king had desperately planned
With even Jibril being taken aback at this carefreeness, Steph shouted out.
"Like I said, the day Shiro fell off the bed."
--No wait.
"......Would that be the day you made me a dog, and challenged Jibril to a
"Ah, you have a good memory."
importantly----!"
Steph had lost at black jack.
libraries.
"From when Steph called for the nobles, in that hour I guess?"
This mystery--that Steph had brooded over for so long.
Steph was stunned, but it was as if Sora wasn't even aware of their own
"Well, that being said we couldn't find the key, so this is as far as we got."
"Ah, yeah we could have picked it easily, but cheating in a puzzle game like
Sora laughed, and Shiro nodded.
Loosening up, Sora coughed.
blindfold Shiro first."
"Time is impartial. Please wait seven years."
Sora turned the key he had gotten from Steph in the keyhole.
------............
Why could it be.
All of them.
Alongside bookshelves crammed with books were sentimental accessories,
But contrary to the peacefulness, something unearthly could be felt.
anyone's feet.
And looked over the book placed in the centre of the desk that was still
He brushed a hand over the unreadably dusty pages.
"From the king of the last of Imanity--to the king who will bring us back, I
Sora painstakingly turned the page, and read what followed.
"I could perhaps have been remembered as an extraordinary king. But for the
shame. With the hope that through the struggles I have encountered, I believe
"......"
all this meant were likewise.
In a lifetime, he had wagered countless games with other nations.
A man who had challenged recklessly despite the losses, seeking to uncover
--As it was, Imanity stood on the brink of destruction.
Yet knowing that he had set out on a series of offensives, as if he were a fool.
stratagems of the enemy, he was despised and reviled.
It was true after all.
"No way, why!"
Union,
It was just a guess--but it was almost certainly the truth.
[what would you do]?"
times......it......took......"
"The previous king dove in. Eight times. Deliberately handing over the land--
But even if his memory wasn't erased, the Eastern Union must have sought to
Therefore, most likely.
Meaning--[after death] was not included......
He was the only one who had grasped the contents of an unrecordable game.
"......Un."
He--probably had known.
definitely send their own agents.
crowned, would be a 'person'.
loser and leave this record for those who would follow.
kept this immaculate record.
"W, what?"
tone.
grandfather]."
panties.
people.
Within his heart, he had prepared himself to the uttermost.
the human race?
That from humans, the lowest of the low, would emerge one able to
The possibility was almost zero, but he believed in the possibility that wasn't
Fame, glory, praise......a fulfilling life.
The siblings who had been entrusted as the 'king who will bring us back'
Looking down at his shirt which read [I ♥ Humans], Sora spoke.
"......I, guess so."
Jibril, in order to change her perception, closed her eyes.
He tapped his fingers.
"Objective- absolute conquest of the Eastern Union"