Misplaced Ambitions and Selfish Wishes

"Portside salvoes! Fire!"

There was a saying in Mizuki island after their war with Kiko was concluded.

"Second Portside salvoes! Fire!"

It goes like: "Raijin is the servant of Kiko's soldiers."

"Third Portside salvoes… Fire!"

This saying was made when in a quaint afternoon while the people of Mizuki was minding their own works such as household chores, patching up fishing nets or playing by the beach, the sound that they can only liken to the beating of the lightning god's drums echoed from the horizon before the hills behind their villages was hit by objects that ripped through the air and sent shockwaves through the ground that rattled their homes.

"Mother!"

"Darling! Darling! Come inside!"

The sound of lightning that was accompanied by the minor earthquake scared the villagers who lived by the seaside. Although they are not a stranger to calamities, the feeling of dread as the hills behind their villages exploded and showered dirt and stone on their roofs made them huddle in their homes.

"C-Chief! T-There are boats from the horizon!"

"Who are they? Are they from the Arakami?"

"N-no… they are… their boats are strange! They're too fast!"

After three salvoes from the naval ships, 17 motorboats sailed forward to the landing area, ripping through the wild waves and skipping over the shallow rocks that line the shoreline. The speed of the boats, which was never seen before by the local villagers, astounded them as they watched both in awe and horror of the strangers that ride them.

"Go! Go! Go!"

"Be attentive of your surroundings! Don't intimidate the villagers!"

"""Aye, sir!"""

The marines that set foot first on the island disembarked from their landing boats the moment they hit the beach.

"H-H-Hey! W-w-what are you doing-"

"I apologize, sir villager! But we cannot speak on behalf of our force. Don't worry, our officer in charge will speak to you shortly!"

"H-Huh?"

The confused village chief can only watch as these strangers who suddenly arrived on his village's doorstep ran around, waving strange muskets and wearing strange soldier uniforms. They lined up at the entrance and exit points of the village, climbed on tall trees and one that he was able to grab by the arm apologized to him before running away to his position.

"That officer will be me. I am Captain Masuyo from Kiko's Provincial Subjugation Army. I apologize for our sudden trespassing on your village, but please cooperate with us while we're here."

"W-what? Are you nuts?! You step foot here after the lightning god flung lightning near us and you demand that we cooperate with you?!"

"I understand your confusion and anxiety, sir. But please believe me. We are not here to harm anyone."

The people of Mizuki can only stand in front of them in confusion. They refuse to speak the reason why they are here and as more of them arrived from the sea, their confusion only grew more and more.

"Beachhead capture, successful, sir!"

["Copy that. We're sending the infantry to secure the beachhead, over. Proceed with the defense line capture."]

"Yes sir! Marines! We're moving out!"

"""Aye, sir!"""

Just as quickly as they arrived, they also left the village to proceed further into the woods. The villagers opened their doors and windows as the strange men left, but another fleet of boats, this time, larger than the ones from before, dropped another group of soldiers who spoke the same words as the first group and was never able to answer the old man who is already getting infuriated with the situation.

"That's it! I will not be ignored this time! Who are you people and why are you here?"

"…I apologize if my men from before wasn't able to speak our reason earlier. I am Admiral Kuwahabara Shojirou from Kiko's Provincial Navy. I and my men are here to war with the Arakami pirates."

"What?"

"Please remain calm and refrain from offensive actions. We promise to not hurt or inconvenience your village and people, but we will have to act if we are to be harmed."

"…Chief. What now?"

"I don't know… The pirates had been a constant thorn on our side but…"

"Yes… I guess we can only stay put and-"

"KYAAA-!!!"

Suddenly, a girl's scream came from one of the houses as a man with visible scars on his arms appeared with a dagger on his hand and holding a young woman on another.

"Put your weapon down!"

"Put that musket away from me or she'll get it!"

The Kiko soldiers were attentive as three loaded their rifles and pointed it on the man with a hostage.

"Chief! Yaga took Haibara as his hostage!"

"No! Not my daughter!"

"Get away! Get away or I'll kill her!"

The hostage-taker placed the dagger near the young woman's neck, trying to get his point across that he is prepared to kill her as he backed away from the crowd.

"There… there! Walk with me girl and I won't kill you."

"Why are you doing this, Yaga?! They are here only for the pirates!"

"Exactly! I'm not gonna work for you anymore, you old fart! If I tell the pirates about this, I will get a pretty sum from them, won't I?"

"You-?!"

"You greedy scum!"

The villagers can only curse at him as he continued to walk backwards towards the exit of the village with the chief's daughter still with him.

"Come on! Young Lady! You need to help me escape if you don't want to die!"

"P-P-Please! Please don't kill me!"

Amidst the hubbub, the elderly admiral of the Kiko Navy stepped forward and talked to the hostage-taker calmly.

"Hey! Yaga, right?"

"Yeah! What of it?!"

"I heard your plan. You want to inform the pirates about us so they can reward you, right?"

"Exactly! I'll both save our island and have a lot of money! I'm never stepping in this filthy fishing village again! You hear me, you losers?! I'm never seeing you again after this!"

"Of course, you won't see them after this. I can guarantee that."

Hearing the old admiral speak in absolutes, everyone was confused and looked at him as he stood sidewards from him.

"What are you talking about?!"

"I need you to stand still right there for me, okay?"

"Huh?"

*Byak! Byak!*

After the old man swung his hand to his side, two consecutive gunfire followed before anyone can even process what was happening.

"H-huh?"

*Dugh-!*

After the air that was still and the silence that hung after that gunfire was broken, the young woman felt her captor's hand sliding off from her neck before hearing his body fall on the ground.

"Fuh-! I still got my touch."

"Yaga… He's…"

"He's dead!"

The old admiral twirling his revolver before holstering it as the people looked at the man who now had two bullet holes on where his eyes initially was… In just an instant, he died.

"Lady Haibara!"

"Come here, child!"

With the sudden crisis finished, the Kiko soldiers looked at the man who finished it with awe and admiration. There and then, they confirmed with their own eyes that the old man, whom they knew came from the plains of Hikigaya domain, was indeed the quick shooter that they heard him as.

"Still haven't lost his touch, my ass. Both of us know that you're never losing to anyone when it comes to quick-draw and shooting a gun."

"Shut it. Won't you let this old man show off every now and then?"

"Haah… Forget it. We've brought our horses and deployment carts. The Marines reported that they have engaged some pirates and is nearly on the 4-kilometer secondary defense line. They said that the infantry can follow them now."

"Alright, get the boys on the carts and let's get going! Let's not disappoint our general!"

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

Meanwhile on another part of the island, me, my uncles and the village leader that acts as our guide are climbing up a steep slope from the place where we left our boat. As our purpose is not to be seen by anyone, we went on the difficult trail towards the most direct way into the island's interior settlements.

"Wow. I can hear the bombardment from the west battle area from here."

"I've allowed them to use the bunker buster shells. We've tried it out last time and it caused a minor earthquake there."

"Haha… Iwasawa-dono sure made our army become unstoppable monsters."

"Hey. How far is the nearest settlement from here?"

I asked the village chief who after finally placing his foot on level ground, answered my question while pulling up the other three elderly men.

"About an hour's walk from here. See that pillar of smoke there, that's another village performing a ceremony."

"So… is that the place that you mentioned?"

I pointed at the mountain from afar and he answered me positively.

"Yeah. That's Mount Akushou. The place where the Star Goddess lives and the main temple in her name is located."

"Well, our first course of action is horses and supplies. I wish someone down there will sell some to us or else, the army will overtake us before we get there."

We climbed down the slope and walked for a long while until we arrived at the gate of the nearest village from where we were.

"…Stay here. I'll talk to their sentry."

"Right."

The village leader walked towards the gate of the town that we were about to enter and spoke to the guard on our behalf.

"Chief Ichida! I didn't expect to see you here! Are things going well in your village? I heard it became the frontlines of the battle!"

"Calm down kid. Everything is going well there. I'm here to buy some supplies."

"And… who are these people behind you, sir?"

"Oh. Some old friends from Kise. They asked to come with me in their pilgrimage to the main temple."

"Pilgrimage, huh? At this time of the year and recent events too…"

I sensed that the guard was being suspicious of us, so I approached them and spoke lightly.

"There are no sufficient reasons for an act of faithful obedience to be impossible. We know that there is war here currently, but that is nothing if we can visit the Star goddess herself for even once."

"…I see. Your words only emanate true faith. I can't believe that such devotees live outside our lands."

"…"

"In any case, you can enter now. We are performing a ritual in the town square, but all the stores are still open."

"Thank you."

We passed through the gate and entered the town that was larger than any of the previous settlements that we saw in here. At the town square, as what the guard told us, the townsfolk are praying in front of a large fire, asking for safety and salvation.

"This is the stable. Mizuki horses are quite stocky and walks slower than the mainland horses, but they are perfect for traversing the dense forest trails and valley passes that we will pass through in our trip to the temple."

"Got it. Uncle Harunosuke, you have the expertise in horses, please choose the best for us."

"Gotcha. Where should I bring them afterwards?"

"Let's meet at the exit of the town. We have to move fast before news about our invasion comes here."

Next, we came to the general shop and bought three days' worth of food and water. The guide said that we can pass through three more settlements before the temple, but they are also strongholds for the pirates and would probably treat us harshly as obvious outsiders.

"There's no way around it. Let's just pack up properly and head there immediately."

"We got some rice, tea and water. Let's bring it to Hikigaya and arrange for our trip through the night."

We decided to move at night to avoid the pirates who usually move their troops at day according to the village leader. It was also helpful that it would be a full moon for a while. That way, we don't have to worry much about the darkness.

"You're quick. I can see that you did pick pretty good horses."

"Well, they're my land's primary trade. I would be damned if I can't choose the best horses as a Hikigaya folk."

It was almost midnight when we arrived at the gorge that separates the outer ring of Mizuki island to the interior settlements.

"Hold."

"What is it?"

"…"

Ichida, the village leader that we commissioned as our guide, told us to stop our horses as I took out a telescope to see some lighted lamps on the other side of the gorge's bridge.

"They've got hunting dogs… We're dead if one of those mutts sniffs us out."

"…Darn it. What now?"

Ichida took a moment to think an alternative route. His answer though, wasn't what we expected.

"Can you hand me a portion of tea leaves?"

"What?"

"I need some of the tea leaves that you bought earlier. I have an idea."

I handed him a packet of tea leaves that he tore open before balling up the leaves and turning away from us.

"Huh? I didn't expect you to know that trick too."

"What was that, uncle Ryuuji?"

After I asked what was happening, I heard a trickling from where Ichida turned away from us and recognized what he is doing.

"He's urinating on the leaves to make it smell strong. Because those dogs are trained to charge towards anything that smells like a human, the odor of urine and tea will make them charge towards it wildly. That's a trick that ninjas usually use for wild predators. How did you know about it?"

"From hunting. When I built my village, Ichida island is infested with tigers. This is how we used to ambush them. Now, let's pray that this will work. Hyap-!"

"Grrr!!! Baw! Baw!"

"H-hey! W-Wah!"

"Stop, you dogs! Noo!!!"

He threw the ball of odorous tea leaves to the bridge and after a moment, the dogs who smelled it ran to the bridge while the men who are holding their leashes was taken by surprise and fell into the pit with their death certain.

"Let's go before those dogs become uninterested with our bait."

"Yeah. Let's go."

We rode through forest, rivers and plains for two days. It was a long and arduous journey as we tried to find the most inconspicuous places to rest and tried our best to minimize our tracks.

"We are searching for spies and traitors! Open your door if you don't wish to be made an example in the town circle!"

In the villages and towns that we stopped on to rest ourselves and our horses, the Arakami pirates has been very keen on looking for deserters, spies and villagers who wish to just surrender to our army.

"We haven't lost the war yet! Our enemies are outnumbered and are in a land unknown to them!"

"They cannot win against us!"

It has only been three days since both our fake and real landing operations destroyed the defenses of the Arakami pirates. The beachheads on the east of the island are now not just a pin in the island, but instead, a sword that is nearing into the heart of the enemy.

"Status report. Now."

["Yes, general! We have reached and maintained all the planned battle areas in our last meeting after the Arakami pirates hurriedly redirected their force to the east. Our cruiser force has begun circling the island to perform shore bombing operations on scouted strongholds. The air force has also reported several successful sorties at the hidden weapon warehouses in the forest on the west. We expect to arrive near the palace of the Pirate Lord soon."]

"Got it. I'm glad that you're following the plans. I will ask another report tomorrow noon."

[Copy that, General! Stay safe on your mission too.]

After that short call, I orderly disassembled the radiophone and went out of the inn's closet to follow the elderly men who is waiting for me downstairs.

"Did you successfully contact them?"

"Yes. The invasion plan is going well. By the time we get to Mt. Akushou, they will be attacking the Pirate Lord's palace."

"Your army is fast. They really are strong."

"The pirates are just giving us a handicap. They're sporadic in planning and they usually have issues with working with each other… but the worst part is…"

After we rode our horses and moved through the town in the middle of midnight, we only needed to look up to see the worst and most cruel part of the war here.

"Darn it…!"

"It's not your fault, kid. None of it is your fault."

Two days ago, the pirates began ordering village men to join their ranks against their own will. I heard from rumors in the inns that we stayed at that, children as young as 8 were pulled away from their homes by the pirates, given weapons and ordered to charge towards our lines.

As soon as I heard it, I contacted every battalion officers and told them to rescue the children as much as possible. At first, it was successful. All the children that charged towards us while they are crying in terror was immediately grabbed by our soldiers and received psychological treatment before being sent home. But the pirates also caught on and did things that we didn't expect.

"Those bastards will pay… I swear that they will pay…!"

"…They will, kid."

Above our heads, there are light posts that illuminated the roads of the villages that we passed through. But instead of wooden torches, the ones that acted as the light of these posts are people… people who were set ablaze alive.

When the Arakami pirates learned that we save the children that they sent towards us, they began strapping lit gunpowder kegs on their bodies so they'll run towards us and explode either in our lines, or right in front of the eyes of our soldiers.

And for the men who either deserted or failed to protect their areas, they were tortured before becoming one of the people that lights the towns and villages of the island.

"We will pass through the dry volcano by tomorrow morning. You should expect constant checkpoints and a lot of ripping off from the guards from that point on."

"We still have some Kan to spare right here. The trick has always been about making it seem like it's our last coins."

After a night long journey and a few checkpoints where the pirate guards took what they assumed to be the last of our belongings, we finally arrived at the foot of Mt. Akushou.

["I've been waiting…"]

"Yeah. I'm here, Rin."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"This is tyranny! This is madness!"

"Shut up! Come with us and answer to your crimes!"

Back in Kiko, the Military Police was mobilized throughout the entire province to arrest and hold the ministers that the ledger from the Special Agency identified as their superiors and collaborators.

"Douma-dono! We have come for your arrest! Surrender and come with us or we will force our way in!"

"…Well then. I will come."

"Darling! W-wait! We might be able to talk to them-"

"No need, Misa. Don't worry, I will be alright. Just stay here and take care of the kids, alright?"

There were those who were arrested in their own estates without any problems. They were cuffed and kept in a centralized holding facility in the military camp near Naka city.

"Protect Sarushi-sama!"

"MPs! Open fire! Don't let the traitor to escape! Encircle the building and get him!"

There were those who made their men protect them as they tried to escape, but the coordinated approach of the military police was able to catch them.

"Sir Shinigami. We are in place."

"Copy that. Wait for them to pass through before jumping down."

"…"

"Now!"

"GRAAAA!!!"

"P-Protect the master!"

There were also those who tried to escape from Kiko, seeking asylum in Kise or Shinka, yet unaware that both of those neighboring provinces was also informed about it and is catching the Kiko ministers who are hiding in their land.

"General Takeo! I'm glad to see you again after a while."

"Lady Mitsuhide. It's a pleasure as well to see you… albeit for a reason that I feel ashamed with."

Ayanami Mitsuhide, the samurai general of Shinka, was the one who facilitated the hand-over of the traitors that they captured to Ishida. The two are good friends as both of them once fought together as generals, but right now, Ichida can't help but feel embarrassed that she became aware of the things that are happening in Kiko.

"To think that even Kiko will face such treachery… my heart aches for Iwasawa-kou-dono."

"Our lord accepted it quite normally. He did expect some people to abuse their power and one day bare their fangs towards him. If he can hear your words of concern, I think Iwasawa-sama will be very delighted with it and thank you greatly."

"E-Eh? A-Ah… I am not worth of such appreciation."

After he said some words that he felt their master would do speak on that situation, Takeo felt a bit awkward as Mitsuhide hid her face in embarrassment.

Iwasawa-sama… sure is a lady-killer, huh…? These were the words that repeated in his mind as he tried not to giggle in front of the fidgeting and blushing female samurai.

"Well then, it's time for us to return with the captives. I thank you greatly again on behalf of Iwasawa-sama, Mitsuhide-dono."

"It's nothing, General. I wish for continued safety and collaboration between both of our countries."

The trial for the traitorous ministers and Special Agency officers coincided with the day when the Kiko armed force landed in the main island and began their offensive. The perpetrators were brought into a large hall, one that has the Misanagi clan's emblem on its front.

"It's time for our trial, huh?"

"Don't worry. I've paid the judge a lot of money and held his family hostage. He'd give us the least possible punishment."

"Thank you so much, Tosa-sama!"

The traitors have already bribed and threatened the judge who will be handling their case, however, as the door of the judge opened, a familiar old man with two bloody sacks on his hands came out and threw it towards the direction of the perpetrators.

"W-W-W-What…?"

"Don't test my patience and kind-heartedness, you bastards. It was one thing to bribe my follower. But to threaten his family… that is one thing that I will not allow."

As the bloody sacks had its closing string loosened, five severed heads rolled out and their dead, empty stares fell on the people who sent them.

"Close the hall. This court will now be under my session!"

The judge today was no other than Misanagi Jirou himself. The sole chief justice of Kiko and the leader of the Misanagi clan who oversees the judiciary system of Kiko. The existence of this person is the reason why even though he is far away from his lands, Iwasawa Hiroshi knows that the justice system here is infallible.

"Prosecution from the Military Police. What is your case?"

"Multiple cases of high treason, attempted coup d'état against the Daimyo, sedition as government officers, abuse of power regarding military matter, illegal provision of alliance weapons and lastly, attempted assassination against several vital government and military individuals."

"Hmph. And defense, what is your plea?"

"""Not guilty."""

The synchronized plea of the caught men caused an uproar inside the court where the onlooking citizens shouted insults at them and even threw some objects in their rage.

"Die, you traitors!"

"How dare you work with the enemy!"

"You deserve to die, you scum!"

As the court became noisy and chaotic, the elderly judge raised his hand to sound a gong that echoed in the courtroom and silenced the audience.

"…Let us return to order, everyone. I have yet to pass my judgement, so I'll give all of you plenty of time to give yours to them later."

The session took place as each side presented their evidences, testimonies and speculations. The side of the defendants were clearly not in the right moral ground as its already obvious that all of their botched plans was purely for their own gain. As such, on the spot, they agreed to spin some tale that they'll use to leverage their case.

"We have done everything for the sake of saving Kiko. Our methods might not be acceptable, but it is without a doubt, something that we were forced to do in order to protect our lands."

"And how does working with the enemy, attempting to kill every high-ranking person in Kiko and fooling the public as their representatives save them in some way?"

"If it isn't obvious yet. We aim to finally conquer the country with our force. Only through this way, can we save Kiko from destruction."

Their plot was simple. As the people of the place have become avid readers of the daily newspapers and some of the well-off people have even come to listen to the news segment of the public radio service, they are aware that the anxiety in their hearts have reached an all-time high and they are willing to believe anything that sounds scary or dangerous.

"Up in the northern provinces, rumors that their coalition will make a move on the central plains and southern provinces are no longer just rumors but concrete facts. In the imperial capital, news that the Emperor has ceded his power to the Amanogawa Shogun and centralized all decision making on him has been confirmed. Thus, we have only done what we believed is right. Iwasawa-sama has been stalling for too long, we must fight now or we will be cattle to the ravenous wolves around us!"

"""…"""

After his passionate and loud speech, the court was silenced as the people began to dread their situation. For them, if what he did say was to be true, they have all the reason to fear it.

"…And?"

"And? Why are you making it sound like it is not important?!"

"Is it?"

The elderly judge stood up and with a slow step, walked in the forefront of the stage.

"Must I remind all of you about who led the force that dethroned the Akizuki Daimyo?"

"…"

"Must I remind all of you who created all of the inventions and conveniences that made the quality of your lives raise higher than ever before? The one who nourished your farms, placed rice on ever house's granary, made gold flood into our lands not for his own good but for yours?!"

"…"

"Must I remind all of you who brought your fathers, brothers and fellow soldiers, victory in all the battles that they fought in?! Who?! Who is that person?!!"

The speech of the elderly man had an obvious subject. Everyone was silenced as they knew who it was that he is talking about.

"I and the Kiko Three have lost our faith. We no longer believed that things will ever change. We have decided to just endure all of this because there is no one worthy enough to lead our people out of poverty and misery… Yet he came and changed our minds. That young man who was nothing more but a countryside doctor became your leader brought you out from that hardship and gave your things that didn't even occur in your wildest imaginations!"

The audience looked down, slightly ashamed of themselves. For a moment, they thought that the traitors was right in doing what they did simply because their safety might be in jeopardy. They only felt shame when they were reminded that the safety and health that they are receiving right now has been given by the man who was almost killed by the defendants.

"So, tell me, you traitors! Is your intention truly about the safety of this country… or are your desires is that of greed and avarice?"

Their ploy was cut into pieces. Their one chance to win over the people and save themselves from a severe punishment is now gone.

"…I believe that this case must now be settled."

Misanagi Jirou returned to his table and with two light knocks on his gong, called for the judgement of the jurors who will assist him in his sentence. A female speaker reached for the consensus result and from behind her pedestal, announced the verdict.

"…The jury has found the defendants guilty of all charges with no distinction. The decision regarding the punishment will now be given to Chief Justice Misanagi Jirou-sama."

"…For the attempted coup d'état against the Daimyo, sedition as government officers, abuse of power regarding military matter and illegal provision of alliance weapons, I find all the defendants guilty with no distinction. They will henceforward be stripped of their government position. Their noble titles, holdings and properties will also be seized under the "Disavowal" act of Kiko's Penal code. Their families will be left untouched. However, the country forbids their entire genealogy from entering military, governmental and macro-economic careers in all captured or allied land. This sentence is effective immediately."

The people clapped lightly with the agreeable sentence. The defendants too, felt that it is a just ruling. They expected nothing more but deference in status. But they didn't know that another sentence is waiting for them regarding the cases that the elderly judge withheld.

"For the multiple cases of high treason, attempted assassination against several vital government and military individuals… I find all the defendants guilty without distinction and according to the revised penal code and martial law of Kiko, sentences them… to death."

"-!!!"

"This is effective immediately. As they are governmental and military men, their execution will be through a firing squad. This will be held three days from now. In the meantime, they are to be held in the death row center in eastern Naka military camp with the Military Police overseeing their security."

"No… NOOOO!!!"

*BYAK-!!!*

"Drop down!"

"Get him!"

A shout from chamberman Tosa echoed in the court before he elbowed the guard beside him, drew the guard's pistol and shot the old judge on the chest.

"Misanagi-sama!"

"Shoot that bastard!"

*TA! TA! TA! TA! TA! TA! TA! TA!*

A sudden command from an MP made the other officers to draw their gun and rain lead into the body of the chamberman who initiated the gunfire.

"Argh… That hurts…"

"Misanagi-sama! Medic! Someone get a doctor here!"

This scene, that unfolded at this time in Kiko. Is something that was immortalized in the lips of many people after that time.

"…Gak!"

"He's vomiting blood! Get a stretcher here and commandeer a cart! We need to get him to an operating room!"

When this news reached the ears of the Shogun, who came from the same world as Hiroshi, just after the old man was eventually saved but was weakened greatly, it was said that he had but a single comment about it.

"That brat must realize it before it is too late…"

This was the case that he eventually raised to the young Daimyo once they met up again.

"…he is repeating every mistake that destroyed our world."

-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-.-

"We can enter now. The gas has incapacitated them."

Back in Mizuki island, we finally arrived in the main temple and with the help of uncle Fumikage's climbing skills, filled the entire temple with sleeping gas.

"Here it is. The main temple of the Mizuki Star goddess."

"…Uncles."

"""Got it."""

Once they finished climbing the mountain and entered the temple, Nobisuke whispered something that caught their guide's ears.

"What… what are you planning to do?"

"…Finishing what I started."

The four men who came from Kiko took out objects that they held in their fists like sticks, and they all pressed a button on one of its ends.

"What is that for?"

"An invasion order. Since we are in the heart of the island and have seen the proper trails to avoid the pirates, we can now move faster and deeper into their lines."

"-!"

"This will be the end of our commission for you, village leader Ichida."

Nobisuke approached the old man and with a strong hit on his neck, made him lose consciousness.

"We will proceed with the sabotage operations. If the army is quick, we can end this war by daybreak."

"Mm. I'll stay here and honor my word. I promised not to damage this place of theirs after all."

The old men dressed themselves as either pirate leaders or monks from the clothes they stole from the incapacitated men. Their job is to confuse the enemy through fake orders or reporting that the "strangers" are violating the shrines of the star goddess.

"…Now then. To proceed into the inner sanctum."

For me though, I have a more personal goal to achieve.

"I have come."

["…"]

Inside the Inner sanctum of the temple, an object that is undoubtedly out of this world is standing in the center of the room. It was made of metal and glass. It emits some sounds that are so faint yet so melodic.

"Talk to me again… machine who protects the girl from the stars."

["Very well."]

As soon as I heard a response from the machine, it shot out a pulse of electricity into my head which made me fall to my knees and lose consciousness.

"Hey…"

"…"

"Hey!"

"…Oh."

After several days of not dreaming, I finally found myself under that familiar tree that proved that I am in a dream.

"It seems like you're not just any other zealot or greedy man. You kept your word regarding your return and eventual freeing of the one that was entrusted to me."

"I am no believer. I am aware of how difficult it is for you to explain yourself as a machine instructed to protect her. I have come to end your initiative. Open that gate again and this time, I will wake her up and save her from this repeating and arduous dream."

"…I like your spirit. But I am not only instructed to protect her… I am also ordered to choose the right person to hand her over."

"Then ask me what you wish to do… and I will perform them better than anyone else."

I do not know what it was that I felt back then when I was allowed to peer into the person that this otherworldly machine protects. Was it concern, was it duty or sympathy? I do not know.

But one thing that I knew… Is that I need to help her. I wanted to help her.

["Then prepare yourself. My trials will not empathize with you."]