—The Crimson Lapis Castle, standing tall at the heart of the Chaos Frame capital.
A chaotic mess of a cityscape, layers of disorder cemented over chaos like a lopsided wedding cake—beams and scaffolding of varying materials and styles crisscrossing every which way, the kind of metropolis that required a certain artistic sensibility to comprehend. Within that maze of chaos, the castle that shimmered with alternating red and blue stood out as something truly extraordinary.
"Crimson lapis" was, in the first place, a contradiction in terms—"lapis" meant blue, so adding "crimson" made no logical sense. But one look at the Crimson Lapis Castle's exterior, and anyone would understand why the name was perfectly apt.
Lapis-colored stone was used generously throughout the castle's foundations and framework—stone that emitted a deep blue luster, and within that luster, red swirled slowly like drops of blood sinking through water. Occasionally, the lapis that should have been blue would drape itself in crimson light.
A castle of chaos, garbed in colors that refused to settle on any single shade.
This was the residence of its lord, Yorna Mishgrey—the Crimson Lapis Castle of the Chaos Frame capital.
"—"
Summoned to the topmost floor of the castle's highest keep, mere moments from the long-awaited confrontation with Yorna, Subaru's back was drenched in cold sweat.
The reason for that cold sweat was a group waiting in the same tower for Yorna—a group in which a face that absolutely should not have been present was found.
Three men who appeared to be escorts, and behind them, standing with composed authority, was a familiar face of black hair and demonic beauty—none other than the visage of Abel, who was supposed to be waiting at the inn.
But it was impossible for him to be here. That was precisely why Subaru and the others had come ahead as envoys to the Crimson Lapis Castle without bringing him along.
In other words, the only possible explanation for his being here was— "—A fake, impersonating the emperor."
Subaru muttered those words under his breath, his cheeks twisting with bitter self-mockery.
He had been warned beforehand that someone existed who shared Abel's appearance and mannerisms. He was surprised by the accuracy of the imitation and the suddenness of the encounter, but that only confirmed it without a shadow of a doubt.
One of the "Nine Divine Generals," the shadow double of Emperor Vincent Volachia— "Hey, Abel-chen? What are you doing he—mmph!"
"Whoa, you okay there, Medium-chan? Aru-chan's right over here."
Behind Subaru, who had frozen at the shock, a close call had just occurred.
Medium had spotted a familiar face among the visitors and, in her friendly manner, had nearly called out to him. Al quickly clamped a hand over her mouth and guided her back. Medium was taller than Al, but despite her surprise at the one-armed man's brusque action, she meekly complied.
It had been a near thing—Medium's action was just barely averted.
"—?"
Naturally, the exchange had not gone unnoticed. The man with Abel's face aside, the yellow-green-haired person who appeared to be his escort shot them a sharp glare.
And yet— "Al, that was nice cover."
"Yeah, I'm patting myself on the back for that one—a god-tier reflex, if I do say so myself. ...But still, isn't this guy a little *too* much of a surprise?"
"...Yes. I think so too."
Standing beside Al, who had pulled Medium back, Subaru nodded with a grave expression.
An unexpected collision with a most undesirable party—and the worst possible clash at that. In hindsight, the fact that Abel had not accompanied them here was a stroke of incredible luck.
If the real Abel had been present, it would have sparked an immediate showdown to determine the true Volachia emperor.
"Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing, though..."
Subaru glanced at the three escorts flanking the man who looked like Abel, tempted by the idea.
He didn't know how many troops might be lurking throughout the city, but at minimum, only three guards accompanied the man here. The false emperor in the capital was shielded by tens of thousands of imperial soldiers—perhaps now was the perfect opportunity to strip away his mask.
"No, that would be premature."
If Abel's words were to be believed, the emperor's position was far from a safe cradle.
It was because of the constant vigilance against being assassinated in one's sleep that Abel never so much as closed his eyes in front of others. Even if one merely imitated the station of a ruler for whom such wariness was a daily reality, it was inconceivable that they would expose themselves defenselessly to public view.
In other words, the three escorts had to be extraordinarily powerful, or there were other precautions in place.
"Maybe we should test the waters?"
"...If we could continue from a save point, that might be an option. But the kind of situation you can't come back from is far more frightening. Let's not do anything rash."
"Sure, sure."
Whether he had been serious or not, Al seemed entirely unperturbed by having his suggestion shot down.
Al's suggestions tended to get rejected relatively often, but that was because he preemptively threw out the rash ideas Subaru might have come up with, buying time to assess things calmly.
Thanks to that, Subaru could cut down on mental detours and devote more time to examining proper options.
For now, he should try to find a way to get through this without angering the false emperor's party. Beyond that, he wanted to identify the purpose of their visit.
Why had they appeared in the Chaos Frame capital at this particular time?
And why in a manner that suggested the emperor himself was personally venturing out, even if reality told a different story?
"Mmm! Mmmph!"
In the middle of his thoughts, the still-gagged Medium let out a string of groans.
It was only natural for her to be indignant—she had been pushed aside without explanation, and her mouth had been clamped shut the entire time. Al hurriedly released her with a profuse "Sorry, sorry."
"Pwah! That was brutal!"
"My bad, I didn't notice. I wasn't doing it on purpose just because Medium-chan's cheeks are soft."
"The more you explain, the more the sexual harassment charges pile up."
"I don't totally get that, but forget it—more importantly!"
Subaru gave Al a cold look over his excuses, while Medium—having finally taken a full breath—jabbed both index fingers at them.
Her momentum made Subaru and Al both lean back, and then— "So, I still don't really get it, but... that Abel-chen—is he a completely different person from the Abel-chen we know?"
"Oh yeah, exactly right. The real deal is supposed to be back in that downtown inn, waiting for us to come back, right? So yeah, we're in serious trouble right now..."
"That's bad, though, isn't it? Because
"I? What about me—ah."
Despite saying she didn't understand, Medium had grasped the essence of the problem. The target of her observation—Subaru—furrowed his brows and immediately understood her concern.
Medium's observation, the point she was driving at, was unmistakable.
And it was something Subaru and Al should have realized before she brought it up.
Of course, even if they had realized, there would have been no time to take countermeasures. Still, they should have had at least the mental preparation to discuss how to proceed— "—Lady Yorna Mishgrey will see you now."
Before they could use that window, the deer-person girl who served as their guide delivered the final verdict.
The girl appeared once more, bowing her large horned head toward Subaru's group and the false emperor's party alike. She then opened the door at the front of the hall and gestured, "Please."
And then, as the figure slowly stepped into the room, Subaru saw her and finally succeeded in giving language to his impression of the deer-person girl.
The impression Subaru had formed of the deer-person girl was that she resembled a "kamuro."
A kamuro was a term from older times—a young apprentice courtesan who worked in Japan's pleasure quarters, serving the higher-ranked courtesans in their lavish lifestyle while learning etiquette and performing arts.
It was probably the girl's surprisingly stylish kimono and hair ornaments that had given Subaru that impression.
More than anything, though, the clear reason lay in the person the girl was escorting— "—"
The reason Subaru had succeeded in giving form to the word "kamuro" lay precisely in the person who now appeared.
Forgetting to breathe, eyes wide and fixated—such an instinctive response was born of the way humans were consumed and dominated by beauty or overwhelming presence.
"My, what a great many guests we have today, ain't so."
The tall woman spoke as she narrowed her slender, long-lined blue eyes.
She was clad in a vibrant kimono decorated with floral patterns, her slender, tall frame wrapped in its vivid colors. Her hair, which graduated gradually from white to a deeper orange toward its tips, was meticulously and beautifully arranged.
Adorning that hair were hairpins crafted from processed animal bone and horn, along with a variety of other accessories made from fangs and scales—a feast for the eyes of any who beheld them.
But those were merely adornments, shapes of beauty crafted by human hands.
To truly bring out their allure, the quality of the person being adorned—the substance within—mattered most.
And in that regard, the substance of this kimono-clad woman was beyond question.
"—"
She moved her slender body with supple grace, advancing with unhurried steps—her beauty was breathtaking. A languid air hung about her, yet her gestures were refined, every movement calculated to draw the eye, offering a glimpse of the optimal solution to the art of capturing attention.
What further accentuated the impression of her dainty steps was what seemed almost too large for her slender figure—a fox tail. No, not one—nine of them, each luxuriously furred.
Combined with her pinned-up hair, the hairpins, the hair ornaments, and the pointed beast ears that stood alert among them, the realization that she was a beautiful foxwoman in a kimono seeped into Subaru's brain like alcohol.
"Welcome, welcome, all the way to my humble castle."
With those words, the beauty settled into the chair set at the hall's seat of honor, extended her long, supple legs, and rested her weight on the armrest. Without even looking, she extended her hand, and the attendant—the kamuro—placed a gold-lacquered, top-quality kiseru in her slender fingers.
The beauty touched flame to the tip of the kiseru, drew the rising purple smoke into her lungs, and smiled radiantly.
All while looking down at the guest she had welcomed to the lowest seat—the Volachia emperor.
"—"
Her magnificent and resplendent bearing, her manner of speech, the deliberate exposure of her slender shoulders through the kimono's cut—combined with the kamuro at her side, all of it conjured in Subaru the words "courtesan" and "oiran."
Naturally, Subaru had never actually seen a pleasure quarter or a real courtesan. The knowledge was cobbled together from period dramas and similar works set in older eras—it was the only comparison that came to mind.
—No, saying there were no other words to describe her was an overstatement.
In this context, there was undeniably another word that described her. That she was beautiful and courtesan-like was certainly true, but more than that, she held the position of "Urushi" among the "Nine Divine Generals"— "—Yorna Mishgrey."
The beauty who had appeared—Yorna Mishgrey—heard her name called and turned to look at the man who had spoken.
On the plank-laid floor, returning Yorna's blue gaze, was the false emperor—and to distinguish him from Abel, Subaru would permit himself to call him Vincent.
"Naturally, the voice is the same..."
A single remark, but the voice was identical to Abel's in every detail.
It seemed the imitation extended beyond appearance to the voice as well. Of course, matching the voice was only to be expected if one were replicating appearance, so it was hardly cause for alarm.
What made Subaru hold his breath was the exchange between Vincent and Yorna.
They regarded each other with quiet composure, their gazes interlocking like a scene from a painting—the dazzlingly beautiful and alluring woman, and the emperor whose demonic visage miraculously combined both majesty and solemnity. How would this day's meeting between the two be recorded in the annals of the empire?
Whether it led to camaraderie or bloodshed, the path forward would determine that.
"...What exactly is your purpose here?"
The question of why they had come to the Chaos Frame capital was, at present, the most opaque element of Vincent's party.
Their encounter with him and Yorna's appearance had taken priority in Subaru's reactions, but the purpose of Vincent's visit—to come to one of the "Nine Divine Generals" who kept repeating insurrection—what was his objective?
Insofar as he had to play the role of the real emperor, there had to be some legitimate justification. And then there was Yorna—why had she welcomed an emperor with whom relations were supposed to be hostile into her castle?
One could say she couldn't refuse in her position, and that would be the extent of it, but— "My, my, Your Excellency, it has been far too long, ain't so."
As Subaru's mind raced, Yorna raised a smile with lowered corners of her eyes and placed the kiseru between her lips. Exhaling purple smoke, she closed one eye in a show of brazen disrespect— "It is an honor beyond measure to behold Your Excellency's face once more. I invited you ever so many times, and yet you never graced the Chaos Frame with your presence, ain't so."
"Invitation, you say?"
Vincent did not address either the rudeness of her posture or the purple smoke. He merely furrowed his brow with displeasure— "Your 'invitation'—is that what you call repeatedly raising armies against me? If so, I believe I already answered in no uncertain terms."
"Indeed, you did, ain't so. And yet here I am, my head still attached to my body. Besides, I didn't bring that tiresome little brat today, ain't so."
"—"
"I can't help but let my heart flutter, wondering if perhaps my feelings finally reached you. Now then—do be lenient, won't you."
Yorna swallowed lightly, letting out a soft "Kufu" laugh. But against her bewitching voice and smile, Vincent's expression did not so much as twitch.
The completeness of his performance as a false emperor was impressive, but on the other hand, Yorna's manner toward Vincent—her gaze, the passion concealed within her words—left Subaru uneasy.
A brief exchange, perhaps, but to Subaru's eyes— "No way that woman's staging a rebellion just because she's got a thing for Abel, right?"
"...I'd like to believe that's not the case."
Al had apparently reached the same hypothesis, and Subaru gritted his back teeth at the words.
He did not want one of the empire's supreme combat forces to be a woman who mobilized armies over personal grudges, nor could he readily imagine that someone would harbor feelings of affection for Abel, who regarded others as less than human.
That was the primary reason for the tension in his cheeks, but there was something even more pressing.
Namely, the pretext Subaru and the others had used to request an audience with Yorna.
That had been built on the slogan "Abel annoys me," meant to appeal to her by exploiting what they thought she might find entertaining. It was not designed for the ears of someone sympathetic to Abel.
If their worst suspicion proved true, this arrangement would have been deeply unpleasant for Yorna. And yet, she had allowed them into the castle.
What's more, she had done so in the same room as Vincent's party.
"General Yorna, this attitude is disrespectful beyond all measure. What exactly are you thinking?"
"Hmm?"
While Subaru and the others worried over the opaque situation, the conversation between the emperor's party continued.
In Vincent's silence, it was the yellow-green-haired person who appeared to be his escort who caused Yorna to raise an eyebrow.
A man with short, spiky hair, part of which was grown long like a tentacle, he appeared to be roughly Vincent's age—or perhaps a little older.
Over black light armor, he wore a sand-colored mantle, and there was a wiry, sharp quality to both his features and physique. That prickly gaze of his bore into Yorna with a look of censure.
"Your Excellency's attendant, I presume..."
"Kahma Ilulux. I have been assigned to accompany Your Excellency on this occasion. I understood my role was that of escort, but... your attitude is unconscionable."
"My attitude, ain't so? And whatever does that mean?"
"Everything about it!"
At Yorna's languid tone, the man calling himself Kahma erupted in fury.
He kept his glare fixed on Yorna, then swung his hand toward Subaru's group, who were watching the situation unfold— "First of all, why have you seated outsiders here? This may be your castle, but it is simultaneously a territory of the empire... Have you forgotten that much?"
"That can't be, ain't so. I am properly Your Excellency's, ain't so."
"That is not what I said! And you—yes, you two as well!"
"Eek! Us?!"
The tip of Kahma's fury swung toward Subaru, who flinched visibly. Ideally, he would have been left to exist outside of all this, but that was too much to ask.
However, if attention had been drawn to them, there might be a way to use it.
"Um, are we perhaps in the way? If so, we could come back another—"
"That would be troublesome. My days are limited, ain't so. If I let today slip by, who knows when we'll meet again."
"Don't try to keep them here! They must be feeling extremely uncomfortable!"
"Yes, yes, that's exactly right, ain't so."
To Subaru's bewilderment, Kahma agreed with him—both opposed Yorna's attempt to keep them present. In terms of立场, Kahma was their enemy as an escort to the false emperor, yet in this moment, his reasonable conduct made him seem like the only ally.
However— "Yorna Mishgrey. What exactly are you thinking?"
The one who suddenly cut through that atmosphere was Vincent Volachia himself—the false emperor.
The moment he spoke, Kahma—who had been building momentum—immediately fell silent. And despite the familiar voice and face, Subaru felt his insides shrink.
Even knowing he was a fake, the man's overwhelming presence was real.
"Answer me. What are you thinking?"
With that, Vincent silenced both his subordinate and the uninvited guests, and posed the question to Yorna once more.
Receiving that question and its force of will, Yorna faintly narrowed her eyes. She drew the kiseru to her lips, drew in the curling purple smoke, and with a sweet exhale, took her time in answering.
This added insult of keeping the emperor waiting caused Kahma's cheek to twitch, but— "Of course, I am always thinking of Your Excellency—of the Emperor of Volachia, ain't so."
"—"
"Kufu. Don't give me such a cold look. But you see—these guests here, I'm certain Your Excellency would prefer I *not* send them away, ain't so?"
With a knowing little smile, Yorna gestured toward Subaru's group with a tilt of her chin.
It was then that Vincent's attention finally turned to Subaru and the others. He must have judged that there was more to the earlier exchange than mere whim on Yorna's part.
To break the mounting tension, Subaru cleared his throat with a preparatory cough, bracing himself for rebuke— "I apologize, but if I may make a suggestion. We seem to be intruding, and from the looks of it, there are matters that perhaps we shouldn't be hearing. Perhaps we should take our leave for now—"
"My, my, how very meek of you, ain't so."
Subaru's attempt to bow and politely excuse himself was cut short.
For a moment, Yorna's gaze—hidden behind a veil of purple smoke—held a glint of childish amusement, and Subaru realized with a start what he had done.
If he was going to retreat, he should have made that decision the moment he saw the false emperor's face.
He had misjudged that window, and now he was paying the price.
Because— "Tanza told me, ain't so. ...You came here to recruit me as an enemy of the emperor himself, didn't you?"
—all of their plans and suspicions had been laid bare.