To step back slightly in time, to the moment Cabajid plunged the dagger into his own abdomen and collapsed to the earth.
Despite knowing he was about to die, Cabajid felt a strange absence of fear. If anything, he was enveloped in a profound sense of relief.
(Ah... at last, I can be at peace... The real me is...)
As he felt the strength drain from his limbs, Cabajid reflected on the life he had lived until now.
His memories were already hazy, but a certain scenery of Japan remained etched in his mind.
Yes—it was not a memory, but a scenery.
He had no recollection of actually living in Japan, yet that scenery, which flickered through his mind almost every day, filled him with a peculiar nostalgia.
The most vivid image was the cherry blossoms of Takato Castle Ruins Park in Nagano Prefecture.
While he possessed the inherent knowledge that the other places in his mind were in Japan, he had no idea what they were called. Among them all, the only one that left a deep, indelible impression was the sight of those blossoms in Takato Castle Ruins Park.
Admittedly, he didn't know what Nagano Prefecture was supposed to be. He wasn't even sure if it was the name of a country. Even so, that park and its captivating cherry blossoms existed within him with an overwhelming, absolute clarity.
Perhaps it was because of these memories that Cabajid had lost all sense of reality regarding his own life. He understood intellectually that he was alive, yet he existed in a state where he could not truly feel his own existence. It was as if he were a puppet being manipulated by unseen strings.
Because he felt like a character in someone else’s story, he felt no connection to life, and thus no terror in welcoming death. In fact, in the sense that it would end his current state of detachment, he almost yearned for it.
Cabajid understood that this underlying desire was likely why he had led the Subjugation Army to the front lines. Unlike Schuls, who enjoyed deep support from the Imperial Army and possessed formidable personal power, Cabajid was merely an ordinary member of the Imperial Family. He had trained for self-defense and equipped himself with Magic Items, of course. But for someone like him—someone not particularly known for martial prowess—to step onto the battlefield suggested a hidden death wish.
(If I die, I die. If I live, I live. I told myself that... but looking back now, I suppose I really was looking for a way out.)
The cold touch of the ground pressed against his cheek. Despite the chill, Cabajid’s mind was remarkably clear. His heart felt so light and transparent that it made him wonder what all his previous turmoil had been for.
As if he were floating up toward the heavens... Cabajid felt his consciousness begin to slip away.
(I'm so sleepy... Yes, a sleepiness so heavy it feels like my very soul will vanish. I don’t think I’ve felt this tired since the moment I was born into this world.)
Through his half-lidded eyes, he could see a Mage working frantically, pouring Recovery Magic into him. But it was a futile effort.
The blade lodged in his gut was a masterpiece, commissioned specifically from an Alchemist with an extraordinary talent for crafting Magic Items. Cabajid had exhausted his influence as the First Prince to secure materials from an exceptionally rare monster for its creation. The dagger was imbued with a poison powerful enough to negate almost any Antidote and a curse that actively inhibited Recovery Magic.
He had ordered it made years ago, prepared for the day he would finally choose to die.
(Ah, this... it’s not as frightening as I expected. It’s actually quite peaceful. That Alchemist... he really was a master of his craft. He spent a lifetime making Magic Items, after all... I’ll have to praise his skill once I reach the other side. Will he be angry that I didn’t die of old age? Or just sad? Well, once I see his face, I’ll buy him a drink...)
Death was very close now. His thoughts grew sluggish, his reasoning fraying at the edges.
It was finally time. As Cabajid accepted his end, he thought he heard Schuls screaming something in the distance. He could see the other Nobles of the First Prince Faction and even Vihera—his enemy until mere moments ago—looking down at him with sorrowful eyes.
(Well now... it seems I was... quite... happy... after all...)
Though his body was a leaden weight, the corners of Cabajid’s lips curved into a faint arc. Then, his consciousness dissolved into the dark.
Inside a pitch-black room, several pinpoints of light flickered, illuminating the immediate surroundings. These were not candles, however. They were spheres of pure, radiant light. There were fewer than ten in total.
Suddenly, one of the lights vanished.
"...Oh? Another one gone? For him to pass before thirty is quite the surprise, even for me."
In the darkness, someone reading a book by the dim radiance muttered to himself. His gaze shifted to the spot where a light had been burning only seconds before. The subject had been an instrument for his research, but the light had been extinguished far earlier than anticipated.
"Even among the remaining lights, that one was of the highest quality. Does increasing the quality shorten the subject's lifespan proportionally? ...That in itself is a fascinating prospect, but I wonder."
He fell into thought for a moment, then, struck by an idea, he began jotting down cipher-like characters on a nearby piece of paper.
"Yes... if I use this constant for the variable at the head of this Calculation Formula and disperse the Magic Construction Formula... I see. This could be quite useful indeed."
As the faint light cast long shadows, the man devoted himself to recording his new findings. There was no one else around; he was entirely alone. He immersed himself in his own world, driven by a thirst for knowledge and an insatiable curiosity.
Rei stood at the Mercurio Army Main Camp, recounting the events that had unfolded at the Subjugation Army's side of the field to the victors of the Bestia Empire's civil strife.
"I see. So Big Brother Cabajid took his own life..."
Mercurio muttered the words after Rei finished. His usual lighthearted tone was gone, replaced by a heavy sorrow. Despite Cabajid having targeted his life and being his enemy until moments ago, the news of his death brought genuine grief. Recalling the few times Cabajid had played with him during their childhood, Mercurio closed his eyes in a silent prayer for the dead.
Everyone surrounding Mercurio wore a somber expression, but none showed their grief as openly as Frizion. She had joined the Mercurio Army because she wanted to stop her kin from slaughtering one another. Even if that proved impossible, she had hoped to minimize the tragedy. Yet Cabajid—her only full-blooded brother—was dead. It was the very outcome she had prayed to avoid.
"No... Big Brother Cabajid... You didn't have to die. Why... why would you do that...?"
She couldn't find any more words, her face contorted with pain. She didn't let the tears fall, likely feeling that as a Princess of the Bestia Empire, she could not show such weakness in public. She would weep when she was alone... once everything was finally over.
"Mercurio," Frizion said, forcing her voice steady. "The Subjugation Army has already signaled their surrender. Stop the fighting."
"...You're right. Any more combat is meaningless. It would be a waste of life in the most literal sense. Theoreme."
"Yes! I will dispatch Messengers immediately to issue the cease-fire orders."
Understanding Mercurio's intent instantly, Theoreme signaled to his subordinates to send riders to every front.
In truth, the front at The Center had already been decimated by Vihera. On the Right Wing, the Cavalry Unit directly under Schuls had taken catastrophic damage from Seto’s aerial bombardment and was currently attempting to regroup. As for the Left Wing, the capture of Pelfeel by Rei’s hand had shattered their Chain of Command; facing the Beast Soldiers, the remnants of the Subjugation Army were doing little more than huddling in a defensive shell.
Active combat had essentially ceased across the entire field. Because the Subjugation Army's Rear Unit was closest to the Main Camp, the order to stop reached them first, and the chaos was finally beginning to subside.
"...So, what does Rei plan to do now?" Mercurio asked.
"What do I plan to do? Nothing specific, really."
To be honest, Rei wanted some time to process what had happened with Cabajid. However, without any tangible clues to follow, he was just piling one speculation on top of another.
"I see. In that case, could I ask you to act as my escort? Even if Big Brother Schuls and the others have surrendered, we need to formally discuss the path forward. Big Sister is over there, but she isn’t suited for this kind of administrative work... and besides..."
Mercurio glanced toward Frizion, whose face was still clouded with grief. He wasn't as close to her as he was to Vihera, but they shared the same blood. He had complicated feelings about the way she had set him up, but he decided he should at least allow her to say her final farewells to their brother.
Rei tilted his head, confused. "Is there really a need for you to cross the battlefield? We’re the victors. Why not just call them over here?"
"I considered that at first, but there are many high-ranking Nobles on that side. It would take far too long for them to navigate the logistics of coming here. It’s faster if we go to them. More importantly, I need to show everyone that I have the courage and strength to walk through the heart of a battlefield."
Theoreme, who was listening while issuing orders nearby, started to protest Mercurio’s declaration but eventually bit his tongue. It was dangerous, certainly, but he judged that with Rei and Seto present, Mercurio would be safe from anything short of an all-out assault by Noise.
"I guess that makes sense..."
Rei thought it over. Since the Civil Strife was effectively over, he didn't have any pressing tasks. He nodded his agreement. Deep down, he also realized that if Mercurio were to die now, his reward for the war might vanish, or his rank advancement might be compromised.
(I’ve done more than enough for them. I should be able to expect a decent payout.)
With that thought in mind, he looked at Mercurio. "Fine. Are we leaving now?"
"Not quite yet. I have several orders I need to finalize first. ...Let’s see, could you come back in about thirty minutes?"
"Got it. Thirty minutes."
With the matter settled, Rei turned to leave, but a voice stopped him.
"Rei."
He turned back to find Theoreme approaching. Rei wondered what the general wanted at such a frantic time. "What is it?"
"...Just before you arrived, Rhodos was brought into camp."
"Was he?"
Rhodos's figure flashed through Rei's mind—the boy he had fought while guarding Frizion’s unit. Rhodos had been a void, showing no emotion, acting as if he possessed no will of his own. Rei was curious about who had managed to take him down.
"So, who got him? His raw power was one thing, but that Restoration Ability of his was a nightmare to deal with. If I had to guess... was it Vihera?"
The Magic Impact Palm was an internal strike, after all. It would likely be more effective against someone with Rhodos’s unnatural durability than a standard physical attack.
Theoreme shook his head, a complicated look on his face. "Lady Vihera was the one who ordered him brought in, but they didn't actually fight. Apparently, he just wandered into view looking dazed, and the moment he saw Lady Vihera, he collapsed. It’s a stroke of luck that we didn't suffer any damage capturing him."
"...I see."
Rei thought back to the abnormal Recovery Ability he had witnessed in their previous encounter. Given the sheer number of Magic Items Rhodos was forced to use, it wasn't surprising that some sort of systemic failure had occurred. He had been a shell of a person, trapped in a state near total Brainwashing; it was only natural there would be severe side effects.
"Understood. I'll go check on him. Thanks for the heads-up."
"Of course."
With their brief exchange over, Theoreme returned to the task of organizing his forces in the wake of their victory. Rei watched him join the circle of Mercurio and the other Nobles for a moment before walking away.