Translator: KJ

Power does not remain in one place.

Nor does it consolidate into a single whole.

Kentz Bertem's confirmation as Standing Minister. Within the Imperial Palace, there were certainly officials to whom the decision was unwelcome. And yet, since the matter had already been "agreed upon", they merely accepted it while concealing their true feelings.

However.

"Minister Eintz."

Mid-hearing, a single book was delivered to Interior Minister Eintz. He adjusted his glasses and first read with his eyes the paragraph underlined in ballpoint pen, then spoke it aloud.

"...'Candidate Anton has insisted on remaining a bachelor his entire life and has never married, but it appears he once had a lover with whom he was deeply involved.'"

The original transcript of Deputy Commander Anton Zefren's Closed Hearing for confirmation, held in a private chamber of the Imperial Palace.

The record of the language Kentz Bertem had poured out upon Anton, the very man who had refused his bribes and back-channel requests countless times.

"'We have confirmed hospital records showing a past pregnancy that ended in miscarriage.'"

"..."

The complexion of Kentz Bertem, who had been carrying himself with easy composure atop the platform, wavered in an instant, and Eintz allowed himself a faint smile.

"This is news I have just received. It seems a book like this was published this very morning."

As he said so, he picked up the cover.

[Anton Zefren's Closed Hearing Transcript]

Every gaze in the platform and the hearing chamber converged on that spot. But Kentz drew a deep breath. He smoothed his expression once again, calm and unperturbed.

"It is a fabrication. Surely a malicious, seditious document concocted by someone seeking to slander me. The notion that records from inside the Imperial Palace could be leaked outside... such a thing is impossible to begin with."

Smiling, he waved his hand. Eintz also gave a small laugh and nodded.

"Very well. Then, in order to ascertain the authenticity of this transcript, would there be any objection to summoning the party in question, former Deputy Commander Anton Zefren, as a witness at a later date?"

Kentz's face stiffened. His lips worked. The tip of his nose twitched, and one eyebrow trembled faintly.

But there was still ground to stand on.

"...Is it not strictly forbidden by law to disclose or verify the contents of a Closed Hearing externally?"

"No. There is no such law. The closed nature is a principle, an unwritten rule, nothing more."

Eintz laughed softly.

An unwritten rule was not actual law. Of course, since transcripts were stored in the deepest reaches of the Imperial Archives, intruding there without permission was a grave crime. But there was no clear statute regarding the public release of hearing transcripts. It would merely earn one the "considerable" displeasure of the Imperial House.

"Well, whichever audacious bastard leaked the transcript, we cannot determine right this moment, but if we wish to verify the authenticity of what is written in this document, then we need only summon a witness and ask the man himself directly to compare."

Kentz looked around. The bound transcripts were already in the hands of countless reporters and officials.

Asking only about the authenticity of a matter already made public was hardly an act that would invite the Imperial House's wrath.

"...No, just a moment. Even if some portion of the contents is true, what bearing does it have on the confirmation for Standing Minister?"

The councilors of Kentz's faction strained to defend him, but Interior Minister Eintz let out a small smirk.

"A man who poured forth such base and insulting language upon the former Deputy Commander of the Sentinel, the Empire's most elite force of arms, a man who once held the deep trust of the knights under his command."

Minister Eintz flipped open a page of the transcript, lifting his eyebrows.

"Could such a person possibly achieve mutual respect and cooperation with the knight orders? The very heart of the Standing Minister's role lies in coordinating and overseeing the knight orders, and yet the knights gathered here..."

Sentinel Knight Order. And not only them, but Novus Knight Order and Essentic Knight Order. He held the transcript aloft so that all of them might see.

"Could they accept your confirmation as Standing Minister?"

Before long, these "books" were delivered to Kentz's supporters as well. Reading the sentences, their faces turned to dismay.

"..."

Kentz bit down on his lip. His clenched fists trembled. A pounding ache that made his head ring. Through his blurred vision, suddenly, the face of one bastard came into focus.

Blond. Curly hair. Cheeks still plump from stuffing his face as always. A grin split wide enough to reach his ears.

Sitting among the audience and splitting his face open with that smirk─ Reutern II.

"Ha..."

'The only one with access privileged enough to leak a transcript from the Imperial Archives, and with malice enough to want to fuck me over.'

'No matter how I think about it, it can only be that fucking son of a bitch.'

* * *

At the same hour, Sentinel Knight Order. Cliff's personal office.

He was packing up his belongings in the empty office. In this place, where he had been awaiting disciplinary action since the explosion incident, no aides or secretaries remained.

Dismissal was already a foregone conclusion.

There was no longer any reason to cling to this place to begin with.

Knock, knock.

Suddenly, the sound of a knock broke the silence.

Cliff opened the door with a weary face. The corridor was empty. Only at his feet lay a thick paper envelope.

"..."

He picked up the envelope. Sat down at his desk and pulled out the contents.

「Anton Zefren's Closed Hearing Transcript」

The instant he saw the cover, Cliff's face contorted. Gripping the book tightly enough to crumple it, he turned the pages.

One line.

Two lines.

Three lines.

Silently, moving only his lips as he read the sentences to himself, his eyes gradually began to shake violently.

Hundreds of pages.

Within them, preserved like specimens, the raw exchanges of the Closed Hearing.

[ Kentz Bertem: To think he tried to plant a seed in that filthy woman plotting treason. Astonishing. At least we can be grateful it was scrubbed from her womb. ]

The verbal abuse by Kentz Bertem, demeaning Deputy Commander Anton, ripping at his wounds, pouring out base mockery.

The old friend who had betrayed Anton.

The harrowing sentences of a psychologically cornered Anton stammering, falling silent, exhaling sighs.

And then...

Near the end of the record, one man appeared──

Maximilian.

[ Chairman: Then, then what do you make of these personal discussions that Candidate Anton exchanged in his letters? ]

[ Maximilian: The contents of the letters are open to multiple interpretations. ]

His treatment of Anton was courteous.

[ Maximilian: It is possible that Deputy Commander Anton harbored seditious ideology toward the Empire, but conversely, it is equally possible that he kept those who harbored such ideology close in order to monitor and control them. ]

He did not judge Anton easily, nor did he suspect him rashly.

Cliff's hand, gripping the book, trembled minutely.

[ Chairman: However, Sir Maximilian. Please look at this abortion record. Regarding Seria Martel, the current wanted fugitive who was Deputy Commander Anton's former lover- ]

[ Maximilian: That is an extremely private and unfortunate matter. ]

Far from driving Anton to the cliff's edge, he resolutely shut down the malice and contempt that filled the chamber.

Rather...

[ Maximilian: Personal affairs are nothing more than personal affairs, and I do not believe they are a subject fit for discussion at a hearing. ]

[ Chairman: Be that as it may, Candidate Anton was involved with this cadre of the revolutionary forces- ]

[ Maximilian: Conversely, it is entirely plausible to interpret that the miscarriage led to a complete severing of ties between them. ]

"..."

Cliff grabbed his own hair. He tore at it as if rending out his own foolishness. Then, abruptly. The recorder enclosed with the book caught his eye. With a trembling hand, he picked it up.

Click.

He pressed the button.

─...I heard the rumors. That Cliff grabbed you by the collar.

A woman's voice flowed out from beneath the static.

A composed timbre, somehow familiar yet impossible to place.

─Have you ever had someone seize you by the collar in your life, Max⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌imilian Ebenholtz?

Maximilian Ebenholtz. The name struck Cliff's ear like a dagger.

─Knight Cliff is in serious trouble now, isn't he. To have laid hands on you, of all people.

A voice that seemed to gouge at his chest. That seemed, somehow, to be hammering at his own transgressions.

But.

─No.

The reply that returned to her was, unmistakably, the voice of a man Cliff knew all too well.

─A knight of the Empire...

Maximilian Ebenholtz.

To Cliff, the knight who had been blinded by rage, who had lost his reason and grabbed him by the collar.

─never abandons his comrade.

He had left these words behind.

"..."

Cliff swallowed a hollow breath.

Setting the recorder down, he quietly bowed his head.

"Ah..."

Just who c⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌ould have left this here.

For what purpose had they delivered this truth to him.

─That line about how a knight doesn't abandon his comrades...

Tap. The woman’s voice continued again.

Cliff lifted his head.

─May I ask why Anton was excluded from that?

It seemed there were still words left in this recorder for him to hear.

─...

Beyond this moment, the faint sound of Maximilian's laugh.

Then, his answer flowing forth like a current.

─This was the way to protect Anton.

In that instant, Cliff's heart stopped for a moment.

─Surely, someday, in a distant future when the Empire has grown a little more peaceful.

Before he was covered in even more filth, as recorded in this Hearing Transcript.

Before he was insulted by those undeserving of even speaking his name.

In this filthy, despicable political arena, the path of standing for Anton.

─A day when men like Anton Zefren are needed will surely come.

At last, he understood the whole of it.

Cliff exhaled a trembling breath and closed his eyes. After contemplating in stillness, he rose from his seat.

─This is preservation for that day...

Listening to Maximilian's final words, he stepped out of the office.

* * *

This was a hill behind the Sentinel Knight Order Headquarters, not far from the building.

Jerome stood alone by the clear lakeside, gazing out at the night, and someone quietly approached.

"..."

Chiron. He came to stand abreast of Jerome.

"...The lake is clear."

Chiron broke the silence first. The moonlight wavering on the lake's surface scattered like glittering silver.

"That it is."

Jerome answered evenly without withdrawing his gaze.

"..."

"..."

Chiron was Jerome's senior in rank, but the same age. Like it or not, they were comrades who had seen each other's faces for over a decade.

"..."

"..."

Two men, inevitably awkward. Jerome stole sidelong glances at Chiron's expression, while Chiron stared silently into the empty air.

"..."

"..."

Jerome closed his eyes briefly, then opened them.

And then...

"Did you read the hearing recording?"

Chiron nodded. The [Anton Zefren's Closed Hearing Transcript] had already been delivered to nearly everyone in the knight order, and had stirred quite a ripple in everyone's hearts.

“Then... Cliff will be dismissed, I suppose.”

Chiron did not answer that question right away. Bearing the night wind in silence, he murmured quietly.

"The night before former Deputy Commander Anton left the Sentinel."

Jerome's shoulders stiffened minutely.

"I met with him."

A faint bitterness laced Chiron's voice.

'Chiron. I respect your boundless ambition.'

With⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌out resentment. Without anger. Without sorrow.

The image of Anton, who had at some point come to acknowledge a self worn down by the weight of the times, and had even smiled.

"Anton... yes. He was certainly a man worthy of respect."

Looking out over the clear lake, Chiron turned over the words Anton had left him that day.

'But if obtaining what you desire requires destroying what you desire, then it may no longer be the thing you desired.'

Words he had not been able to fully understand at the time.

'So please, protect it. The thing you wanted... in its most whole form.'

But words Maximilian had already known.

'That is all I have to say to my successor.'

Chiron laughed softly.

The fracturing of the Sentinel was what the Imperial Palace desired. Those bastards wanted to use Anton as the fuse to make commoners and nobles fight each other. To be played in such a way would mean the Sentinel could no longer maintain its proper form. It would lose its position as the Empire's foremost authority and force.

"...The Sentinel is, in the end, the Sentinel. There will be no dismissal."

But what Chiron had wanted, just as Anton had said that day, was the Sentinel in its most whole form.

"..."

Jerome drew in a deep breath. He swallowed in silence. He raised his gaze and looked up at the night sky.

"I'll find some way to convince Max."

Through the gray clouds shrouding the horizon, the round full moon had risen.

"It's dark, Deputy Commander Chiron."

Jerome murmured as if speaking to himself.

"Where... are we supposed to head. And where are we headed now. Looking back, it feels as though we have only ever wandered."

Even after ten years, things were not so very different from those days in his twenties.

He still lost his way, still feared what he could not see.

The only thing that had changed since then... was that he could no longer let it show.

"Who kn⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌ows."

Chiron lifted his head with no particular change in expression.

"...The moon."

His weighty voice spread quietly across the lakeside. Then, drifting away with the night wind...

"The moonlight is shining upon us."

.......

Cliff.

He stood with a hardened face before a certain door.

An office where the lights still burned brightly even in the deep pre-dawn hours.

Knock, knock.

He knocked there, and at the word to e⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‍⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌⁠‌‌‌⁠⁠‌‌⁠‌⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠‌‌‌‌nter, opened the door.

“...All we have to do is follow that light.”

Cliff, who stepped forward with a deep sigh,

was met by Maximilian's calm golden eyes.

~~~

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