Katahane no Riku

Chapter 41.Tightrope walking negotiation

Raimon Barusak was enraged.

He was burning in raging fire for Rook Barusak′s incompetence.

Not only was he famed of being the genius that would only be born once each thousand years and was going to be the next head of the Barusak household, but also, behind the scenes, the progression on the marriage with the first princess had been going well; it was the son he had pride on. But Rook Barusak has caused their greatest defeat in history in the Karkata campaign. And even at other times, he had been doing varied disgraceful actions that hinted he could have thoughts of betraying the kingdom by making friends with demons. Raimon had been again and again overlooking all the fall of virtue that covered the Barusak house in dirt. Somehow, all this enduring had been piling up.

But with this historical defeat, his endurance dam had crumbled. It had been his limit. He didn′t want to even see Rook′s face, so he expelled him from the royal capital, but even so, he still couldn′t calm down his anger. Raimon threw the beverage bottle Rook had given him to the floor.

“Father!”

As if to calm down his anger, she rushed to her father. There was nothing as much dreadful as her father′s anger. If she wasn′t to calm him down even if it was for a bit, he would take Rook′s life just as he did with Riku Barusak. Only that she needed to avoid at all costs.

“You are too agitated. Please, calm down a bit.”

Raimon glared at Raku. Because of his sharp glint on his eyes, Raku became motionless as if her feet had been sewed onto the floor. It felt to Raku like he was a snake glaring at a frog. While giving off cold sweat, despite it, she risked her life and looked back at her father.

“Father!”

“Raku… You know it, right? This is a problem concerning the honor of the Barusak family. My beloved daugher, it is necessary to remove that fool that covered honor of the Barusak in dirt.”

Receiving the anger of her father with his silent glare, Raku′s body started to tremble.

Her fear was much that she was acting as if there was something cold crawling around her back. But killing off her fear, Raku started to choose her words. If she were to choose her words badly, she would probably have her head sent flying from her neck. But despite that, she made her resolve. Kneeling in front of Raimon′s feet, Raku quietly spoke.

“Father, Rook is immensely famous with the populace. Specially with the females, from the commoners to the nobility. Haven′t the first princess been personally touching the topic of marrying with him? …If we were to deal with him under these conditions, we will receive animosity from many people.”

“…But even so, I have set my resolve, Raku.”

Raimon was silently looking at Raku.

“Even if an authority had been healthily working until then, things like being affected by an unknown disease… can happen sometimes. By me saying that, Raku should know what I mean, right?”

“…Could it be you are telling me to use that drug that is still in development on him?”

Raku′s voice had trembled for an instant.

This certain drug had been locked deep inside one of the rooms of the laboratory. The development of the drug had already been terminated by Raimon, and although it is still at development stages, its effects had already been verified. Rook must definitely not take that drug. While putting up a calm facade, her mind was desperately

“…However, that drug has the effect of increasing the strength to the level strong demons would achieve. Of course, もちろん、対退魔師(政敵)用に改良し始めておりますが……まだ確証はつかめません. (TL note: I don′t know what this is talking about;-;. Well, it has something to do with politics.)

“Then, it is fine if you use another drug. It alright… If the drug is given by you, Rook will easily take it. I trust you will succeed… My beloved daugher.”

With a calming tone of voice, Raimon spoke those words. With the corner of his eyes loosening up and speaking in a gentle tone, if someone else were to look, the person would think he was just normally talking to his beloved daugher. But Raku noticed that his eyes weren′t laughing. If he were to oppose Raimon more than that, there was the possibility of him dealing with Raku as well. Raku swallowed the saliva that was in her mouth.

“Father, I understand. I will do what I can. But before that, only for now… Can′t this be put off?”

But Raku mustn′t be defeated here.

Exhausting all her body and spirit, she was willing to make her father reconsider Rook′s death. Because of how she could still speak the words of postponing Rook′s death in such condition, Raimon′s veins at his forehead popped up. Of course, Raku noticed that, but she ignored his anger.

“We can have Rook disposed of from the shadows anytime. However, Rook Barusak has great popularity. Also, he is a considerable addition in military might. That′s why it won′t be late for us to dispose of him after we made use of his every single drop of sweat and blood. Besides, a spiritualist that possesses that amount of talent is not something common. Don′t you think it is a waste to get rid of him right away?”

“…Indeed, it is as you say, but…”

Raimon slowly moved his mouth. Raimon′s great change in behavior didn′t slip past Raku′s eyes. The hatred burning in his eyes were wavering. As if she would not permit this opportunity to go away, Raku pressed on.

“Therefore, I propose to send Rook Barusak to the front lines. If he raise achievements, it will be possible to elevate the reputation of the name of the Barusak family. …And if he is to be killed there, then it simply meant that this was his limits.”

Raimon looked at Raku puzzled. However, he didn′t feel the fear Raku had a few moments ago. Raimon′s heart wavered. Comparing to the worthless except for her strength Riku Barusak, Rook Barusak was the owner of an overflowing talent any spiritualist would desire. His true feelings were that he didn′t want to let go of Rook yet. That′s why it was possible to have his opinion changed after this recommendation. As much as she could, Raku imposed herself.

“Father, please, reconsider.”

“…Alright. Rook Barusak will be sent to the front lines… He will be sent to Fert. I will have the preparations be immediately arranged. Raku should go back to your work.”

“Ha. Thank you for the reconsideration”(はっ)

Doing a light salute, Raku turned away from Raimon.

Coming back to her room, she saw Marius, her attendant, waiting for her. Giving one glance to him, Raku walked in direction of the laboratory. After taking her smoking pipe and putting it into her mouth, with experienced movements, Marius scratched a match, lighting it up.

“Thanks for your hard work, Raku-sama.”

“…Really, it is such a pain to confront against that guy.”

Raku took the match in a apathetic manner.

Raimon Barusak was the central pillar of the Barusak household; he is not someone that was easily bent. If she was to go one step wrong, perhaps she would have lost her life. Those negotiations were like tightrope walking. While being relieved of still having her neck connected to her body, she lighted her smoking pipe.

“But even so, is Rook-sama going to be fine?”

Marius timidly asked. Because Raku put her life on line, she was able to protect Rook. However, this would have no meaning if he was to die just on his next war. Raku repudiated Marius′ concern.

“Nonsense. All is already fine now. It′s obvious he will be winning the next battles.”

“Win, you say? However, those last times… Rook-sama has…”

“Don′t worry. This will be the end of his bad luck. As you can see… I have already prepared a plan.”

Raku dexterously put her right hand inside her white coat. And then, she took out a letter. When Marius looked closely, the noticed that it was addressed to Rook.

“Eh? This… Have been prepared beforehand?”

“If I was to succeed in saving his life, nine out of ten… Rook would have been sent to Fert. It is the indomitable city one of the leaders of the Demon Lord army, Edgar Zerrik, governs over. It′s a place great numbers of spiritualists had their life lost in these two hundred years. It′s an extremely difficult place to capture, but it doesn′t mean there is no chance of victory.”

While having confidence that it was a strategy that would victory this time, she declared. Looking at Raku acting like that, Marius became a bit anxious.

…It′s not exaggeration to say that a great number of Barusak soldiers had died because of this last strategy Raku had thought of. Rook, who had adopted a strategy that was created by a scientist, was to blame, but Raku still had a considerable amount of responsibility on that. The three people that knew Raku was related to the great defeat at Karkata was nobody except for Rook, Mary, and Marius. As long as Rook or Marius didn′t tell the truth, she wouldn′t be investigated about this matter.

“…What is it, Marius? Are you anxious about my strategy?”

“Eh, uhh… It′s no such thing, but… Err…”

“…Haaa. Marius, you are honest to a fault. Don′t worry. Differently from Karkata, this time, it is a perfect plan without any inconsistencies. If you understand, then send this letter already.”

While Raku grumbling while being shocked by him, she threw the letter to Marius. Marius had a face of someone that still had something to say, but he left to send the letter despite that. In the corridor, only Raku remained.

“…Really, that a Marius. Doing unnecessary inquiries… Well, it′s fine. I was able to accomplish my objectives.”

Raku muttered those few words.

The meaning carried by those words could only be wondered about. Unfortunately, there was nobody that knew the real intention behind them. While smoking with her pipe, she headed to her laboratory in a fast pace.

Without anyone having heard those mutters, Raku disappeared from the corridor together with the smoke.