Re:zero arc7 chapter 21 - edited mtl

* Chapter 7.21 "Zykl Osman"

--Zykl Osman, Second Class General of the Volakian Empire, was known for his "womanizing".

He was known as a "womanizer", a "seducer", and a "lustful man".

For an imperial soldier who had to show his ability and win the respect of his generals, this was a rather disgraceful list of titles.

However, Zykl Osman himself liked the name "womanizer".

--It was no exaggeration to say that he was proud of it.

Why?

Because before he was called a "womanizer," he hated the nickname Zykl by which he was known.

As a soldier, it was an unbearable humiliation to be called by such a nickname. That's why he proudly held up the title of "womanizer," which made his generals forget that nickname.

In the first place, Zykl's "womanizing" was different from the bad habits of men, such as being a womanizer or looking down on women.

The Ottomans have been producing imperial soldiers for generations, but in Zykl's generation, the blood was uneven, and for some reason, the family was all female. Born and raised with four older sisters and six younger sisters, Zykl spent his childhood without a single male sibling.

Surrounded by female sisters from top to bottom, Zykl, like most people, was instilled with various preconceived notions about women.

However, what made him different from most people was that while most people lose their fantasy of women due to the existence of female family members, Zykl instead sought ideals and fantasies from outside women.

When he started his career as an Imperial soldier at a young age, away from his sisters who were sad to let go of their sweet and gentle brother, he had his first contact with an outside woman, and he burst out.

Since then, for Zykl Osman, women have been like a bubbling dream that exists between ideal and reality, a forbidden fruit of love and hate.

Growing up in a family of many women, Zykl had a strong desire to be kind to women, and at the same time to be kind to women (ズィクルは女性に優しく、同時に女性に優しくされたい). Therefore, he considered it his supreme pleasure to serve women and be served by them, and he practiced it.

Unlike many of the dominant men in the empire, this attitude, combined with jealousy and contempt for his ability to use the right troops and win many battles without difficulty, led to the name "womanizer".

However, as it was said at the beginning, Zykl Osman liked the name.

"Womanizer" was very good, wasn't it? In the first place, there were more men who like women than those who dislike them, so they can have the opportunity to talk with many generals.

Zykl's attitude was clear, and his subordinates, who knew his superior's tastes, naturally respected him as a "womanizer.

--It was all very well to be a "womanizer," wasn't it?

Zykl Osman was the man who rose to the rank of Second Class General of the Empire despite being called such.

When the emperor was ousted from his throne, his political opponents chose the best move they could within the limits of their authority to choke him out.

And that is exactly what Zykl Osman, the menacing general known as "The Womanizer", was doing.

*******

From the beginning, Zykl had a hunch that there was something fishy about this expedition.

This year, however, the timing of the exercises had been moved up, and only a few officers, including Zykl, had been notified of the purpose of the expedition: negotiations with the Shudrach people.

"The "Shudrach People" hiding in Badheim: ......"

The Shudrachs are an indigenous tribe that lived in the jungles of Badheim, and were known to have a long history.

They were also famous for not coming out of the jungle very often, and Zykl had never encountered them directly. However, he had heard that they were a female-headed tribe, and he wanted to meet them.

It was also interesting to see how they live in the jungle, and how they catch men from outside and use them as tools to have children. He thought they were probably all strong and tough women.

Women were good. Whether they were strong or weak, kind or strict, they had their own flavor.

In the first place, they couldn't be lumped together. Both his sister and he had had times of kindness and harshness, times of sweetness and pain.

If one woman can be so wonderfully varied, how can he think of multiple women in the same sentence?

So...

Zykl: "What is the ...... imperial capital thinking of making me swear servitude or destroying me?"

That was the secret order given to Zykl before he set out on his expedition.

He was assured by the Imperial City of Lupgana that the real purpose of this expedition was to either soften the hearts of the Shudrach people or destroy them. He asked for confirmation that there was no mistake, but the reply from the imperial capital remained the same, and Zykl had no choice but to accept it.

However, he had heard that there was some kind of problem going on in the imperial capital, and he could imagine that it was related to the purpose of this expedition.

This was evident from the fact that the purpose of the expedition was hidden from the soldiers and they were ordered to carry it out without telling anyone. --Zykl had no idea what the Emperor had in mind.

Zykl: "At any rate, no one will ever be able to read the depths of His Majesty's heart."

--Vincent Volakian, the seventy-seventh emperor of the Holy Volakian Empire.

That was the name of the leader of this empire, the wisest man of our time who would never let anyone read his deepest thoughts.

In the crystal palace of the imperial capital of Rupgana, the emperor was said to be able to see through the entirety of this vast empire, and even though he held the position of Second Class General, Zykl, who was entrusted with a post far from the imperial capital, has few opportunities to see his face. However, his wisdom and fame reached Zykl's ears across the distance.

Imperialism saw the inevitability of the strong eating the weak and greedily rising.

In a world where tribal uprisings and civil wars were commonplace, Vincent had crushed every problem before it became a conflagration.

In the eight years since his reign began, the Volakian Empire has been in a remarkable state of peace.

Blood has been spilled, fires have been set, and lives have been lost.

Still, this was the most peaceful time since the beginning of the Volakian Empire.

That was why Zykl's brow wrinkled at the thoroughness of his stance toward the "Shudrach people".

Even though he was the poster child for warfare, the Emperor's aversion to it was apparent. It was not that he didn't like war, but that he considered war to be a trivial matter, and that was why he made the decision.

Would he feel this way because he felt betrayed by it?

???: "No, that's not true, Zykl Second Class General, I understand where you're coming from. I know exactly what you're thinking, and as a Soldier myself, I have a lot on my mind."

The one who listened to him with a friendly smile was one of the ordinary soldiers.

A moment in the tavern of the castle city of Guaral, where we are stationed as the base for this expedition. When Zykl was not spending the night with women, he preferred to drink with his men. He also likes to drink with ordinary soldiers of a lower rank than the senior soldiers and three generals who serve him.

Of course, most soldiers would not want to drink with their superiors.

Still, Zykl liked this ritual every time he went on an expedition, because he wanted to know the thoughts and preferences of the men accompanying him. --This night, however, he might have talked a little too much.

The civilian he had been drinking with that night was an unusually talkative man.

He was always looking around curiously while drinking, and when I asked him what he was thinking about, he joked that he was making assumptions about what would happen if the bar turned into a battlefield.

He had an ever-present battlefield attitude and was not afraid of his superiors. The combination of his imperialism and his personal fondness for humanity led him to talk about things he shouldn't have.

Zykl: "Although I didn't explicitly say anything about the secret orders to the Shudrach people, I felt as if I had been told in a way that made it clear."

If it had been someone from another country, Zykl would have been sentenced to death for his blunder.

???: "Don't worry, I'll be at the forefront tomorrow by order of His Excellency. ...... I'm sure the higher-ups have their own agendas, but it's none of my business."

The general said to Zykl's relief as his drunkenness faded and he came back to himself.

And just as he said that, they set out for the encampment adjacent to the Badheim jungle, the frontline position in the expedition.

Confirming this, Zykl once again faced the lump in his chest as he remained in the city.

The imperial city's orders were to take a firm stance against the "Shudrach people", to force them into servitude or death, but Zykl was determined to remain persuasive whenever possible.

That was what Zykl believed, and it was close to the Emperor's beliefs.

But--

Zykl: "--You're saying that the camp was burned to the ground after the Shudrach attack?"

Zykl was shocked to receive such an unexpected report at the city hall he had seized.

Until last night, he had thought that he would do everything possible to accommodate the "Shudrach people" and capture their tribe in a way that would not involve fighting.

The imperial soldiers were unable to fight back as they were attacked by the Shudrach's people from several positions that surrounded the western side of the Badheim jungle.

They were shot in the back as they fled, and the damage spread even further, resulting in over a hundred casualties.

Zykl: "Stupid ......."

Zykl didn't know what he was muttering about: his own judgment, the actions of the Shudrach people, or reality.

All he knew for sure was that the calm plan he had constructed in his head had collapsed, and the "Shudrach people" had become the enemies of the Imperial Guard - or rather, of the Emperor.

???: "I'm sorry to say this, but we'll wait for reinforcements from the Imperial City and take down the rebels in the Badheim Forest."

Zykl made this decision after receiving the soldiers who had narrowly escaped from the attack of the Shudrach's People into the city and preparing the appearance of the expeditionary force.

He had the option of attacking the forest with his current forces and fighting the Shudrach people. However, the jungle was their domain, and any half-hearted advantage in numbers could be erased.

If they were to achieve a certain victory, they needed an overwhelming advantage, not a half-hearted one.

And that, too, required the best soldiers for destruction, who had abandoned the lukewarm attitude of seeking negotiations.

Zykl: "Foolishly, we have swept away the hand of peace from their side. Then we have no choice but to follow our allegiance to His Imperial Highness the Emperor and bring down the death penalty on the traitors."

If he was careful, even the "womanizing" Zykl Osman would lose his warmth.

Even if the other party was from the female tribe of the Shudrach people, he must destroy every last bit of their bloodline and put an end to any lingering doubts.

To that end...

Zykl: "Do not neglect preparations to close the main gate. I've heard that the Shudrach people are good with bows, but they can't get past the walls of this walled city. Do not leave any room for them to break through."

He found out from the soldiers who had returned how the front line was burned, and bearing in mind that it was a small group of elites burning down the city, he turned to a complete defensive strategy.

Given the known lifestyle of the Shudrach people, it was hard to imagine that the tribe as a whole was that large in number, and it was unlikely that everyone, including children and the elderly, would be able to fight.

If they assumed that their strength was around a hundred people at most, the only way for them to compete with the Imperial soldiers is to take advantage of the darkness of the night and surprise them.

However, this was also a means of preemptive attack that can only be used against an opponent whose vigilance was relaxed when there was no attack.

Zykl: "Thoroughly plug the holes! Even the walls of a fortified city are not solid. If you have a long history, you can think of ways to get in and out without going through the gates. Don't overlook any kind of loopholes!"

???: "On that note, I have a report for you, my lord. Some of the soldiers who have returned from the burned camp are already going around destroying loopholes in preparation for an attack from the outside."

Zykl: "I see. "It's reassuring to know that there are soldiers other than the general who can see the future. As soon as this matter is settled, we will take it up again. But for now, ......"

???: "Yes. It's a thoroughly defensive stance until the reinforcements arrive."

Hearing Zykl's instructions, his subordinate, Third Class General, bent over deeply.

If this was what an ordinary "general" would say, he would be laughed at for his reluctance. In fact, Zykl has been subjected to that kind of ridicule in the past.

However, Zykl had already suffered a painful blow against the Shudrach people, and if he returned to the imperial capital, he would face some sort of punishment.

There was no reason not to take the best course of action under such circumstances.

The subordinates also knew this, so they did not ridicule Zykl's stance.

And...

*******

Zykl: "...... What the hell?"

Zykl raised his eyebrows at his subordinate's report of the siege in the fortified city of Guaral, which he continued to do.

In the midst of waiting for reinforcements to arrive from the imperial capital and maintaining the ever-increasing tension, the report gave Zykl a very out-of-place feeling.

Because it was--

???: "Yes. Apparently, a troupe of traveling entertainers has been the talk of the city for the past few days."

Zykl: "Traveling entertainers: ......"

The report from his subordinate was idyllic, without any sense of tension.

The report was inappropriate for tense wartime, but there was no reason to reprimand the subordinate who gave it.

In the first place, it was Zykl himself who disliked the idea of forcing his people to lead a life that was particularly conscious of the fact that it was wartime.

Even so, dissatisfaction tended to accumulate in cities where the military was stationed. In some cases, the failure to control the people's emotions could even lead to collapse.

With this in mind, Zykl did not dare to tighten the grip on the people's emotions.

He kept a vigilant eye on the outside of the city, and made sure that his soldiers searched the area thoroughly to prevent the invasion of the Shudrach people, while allowing the residents to live their lives as usual.

This was a compromise between Zykl's common sense and his military awareness, although he knew it was a contradiction.

Anyway, because of this approach, the city has a policy of not changing the way it treated people entering and exiting the city during the day - the checkpoints at the main gate and the peddlers.

So, there might be room for a troupe of traveling entertainers to enter the city...

???: "...... What are you going to do about it, report it? If you want me to crack down on them, I don't really want to do that. This is the situation. I can see how the citizens would welcome a troupe."

The situation was such that not a few military personnel, along with the guards, continue to patrol the city.

Many of the soldiers who had escaped the attack and entered the city were becoming increasingly hostile and wary of the "Shudrach people," and even though they were instructed to be careful, they were constantly getting into fights with the citizens.

In such a situation, it was not hard to imagine that the appearance of a troupe of traveling entertainers in the city would be a small relief to the citizens. Even more so, if they took it away from them--

Zykl: "The citizens will explode in revulsion. Don't you understand?"

???: "Of course, Your Excellency is right. So I'm not going to tell you to crack down on it. Just ......."

Zykl: "Just, what? You're being very coy."

Zykl raised one eyebrow in response to his subordinate's stammering attitude.

After a few moments of silence, the subordinate bowed his head as if he had given up. With his fist in his palm, in a posture of respect for his superiors and no hostility, the subordinate breathed a "ha" and said

???: "Actually, that troupe ...... of dancers is magnificent, sir. I was wondering if you could take a look at them."

Zykl: "Me? A dancer, if you don't mind my saying so. ......"

Hearing the unexpected suggestion of his subordinate, Zykl rolled his eyes in surprise.

This was a subordinate that he had known for a long time and had stepped on a reasonable number of battlefields with. It was hard to imagine that he would come up with such a proposal without thinking.

However, it was hard to gauge his true intentions for wanting to show Zykl the dancer.

???: "Sir, I can't say this too loudly, but there is a growing dissatisfaction among the soldiers."

Zykl: "Mm ......."

A subordinate who had straightened up his residence confided in Zykl.

Zykl's gaze naturally sharpened at the unconventional approach. When he silently urged him to go on, his subordinate said in a slightly hushed voice

???: "The imperial capital's reluctance to send reinforcements is one thing, but the soldiers also seem to have some thoughts about your lordship, who is hiding in the city and preparing for a defensive battle. There is also the matter of the earlier incident where the camp was burned."

Zykl: "I see. I see. No, that's to be expected."

With his subordinate's frank pointing out, Zykl held something heavy in the back of his chest.

It was inevitable that the soldiers' dissatisfaction and distrust of Zykl would pile up. It was Zykl's fault for allowing the Shudrach's people to attack first, causing the deaths of so many soldiers.

After that, the soldiers who had joined us were not given a chance to recover, so it was no wonder that they turned their frustration to Zykl.

???: "Of all the things you don't talk about, sir--"

Zykl: "--don't say it."

???: "--Oh, excuse me, sir."

Interrupting his subordinate's attempt to continue, Zykl placed a hand on his forehead.

He could only imagine what kind of abuse a subordinate would spit at a disgruntled superior in a passive situation. Still, it was the obvious insults that seemed unbearable.

Even if he had the rank of Second Class General, he just couldn't accept such insults.

After thinking about it for a while, Zykl also realized the intention of his subordinate's suggestion.

Zykl: "I see. So you're saying that we should set up a place for the soldiers to resolve their dissatisfaction."

???: "Yes. I thought that the dancers could be used for that purpose. Seeing their splendid singing and dancing, many of the generals will go to ......."

Zykl: "Hoho, I see? You describe it as if you've seen it all before?"

In response to Zykl's pursuit with narrowed eyes, the subordinate coughed and avoided clarification. But that attitude was the best proof that his suspicions were true.

At any rate, he was in the difficult position of being caught between "general" and "soldier".

It would be narrow-minded of him to blame him for seeking a way to heal himself.

In addition, his subordinate who actually saw the dancer suggested this.

Zykl: "I see that the dancer is very beautiful."

???: "That's it! Oh, no, I'm sure it will be worthy of Your Excellency's attention. Besides, the dance and the musician's singing and playing are also magnificent. ......"

Zykl: "Hmph, that's quite promising."

Zykl thought that was a bit of an exaggeration, though he agreed.

Nevertheless, he was pleased that his subordinate had made such a proposal out of concern for his position and future, and there was no reason to stubbornly refuse it.

Zykl himself had not had a woman in his bedchamber for some time now, due to his busy schedule and heartache.

There was no way he was going to put his soldiers through that kind of inconvenience.

Zykl: "All right, all right. I'll just let you talk me into it. You can invite that troupe of traveling entertainers and set up a place to congratulate the generals."

But--

Zykl: "But don't forget to check that they don't bring weapons."

*******

Once Zykl's permission was granted, the men ahead of him moved quickly.

How thirsty and hungry they must have been, they immediately set up a banquet hall on the first floor of the city hall, prepared drinks and food, and gathered women to serve.

Then they called out to the troupe of traveling entertainers in question and invited them to the top floor of the city hall.

???: "I am pleased to present to you a beautiful dancer from beyond the great waterfall. With her lustrous black hair that swallows up the sunlight, her beautiful white skin blessed by the spirits, and her supreme beauty as if she were a celestial being, she will be dancing grandly tonight."

After the musician's exaggerated preamble, the veil was slowly and deliberately removed.

Zykl's eyes widened as the veil revealed a troupe of female traveling entertainers, a dancer with a reputation in the city who had been covered up by the musicians.

Zykl: "----"

Her beauty, with her white skin exposed and her long black hair flowing loosely down her back, betrayed the previous words of the previous musician - yes, that expression was too inadequate to describe this beauty.

The beautiful black hair and the white skin wrapped in a thin costume certainly had the magical power to captivate many who saw them. However, these factors were only part of the true nature of her beauty.

If charisma is a talent that charms not only dancers and musicians, but also many other people, the atmosphere and appearance of the dancer was frighteningly similar.

The thing that made Zykl feel it most strongly was the dancer's eyes.

Long and slit, with long eyelashes, they were not only at the center of a well-rounded face, but also at the very top of the golden ratio.

Zykl's instincts made him thirsty.

Whether it was the dancer herself or the charisma she wore that drew him in, Zykl had no idea.

However, it was hard to imagine how much of a shock it would be when the dancer, who had brought so much emotion to the audience even without dancing, actually started to dance in the midst of the song and music.

And Zykl craved to be struck by the unimaginable shock.

???: "--Please, if you could give me the opportunity to perform the dance of our dancing princess."

The mute dancer - no, instead of the dancing princess, a musician with long black hair also hangs his head.

The two musicians, one with dark hair and the other with blond hair, were beautiful, but Zykl, who was admiring the dancing princess, saw them only as accessories. Normally, Zykl would have reflected on his disregard for women, but he was too feverish to even think about it.

Never before had he been so conscious of his reputation as a womanizer.

In fact, Zykl was probably a womanizer. --It was impossible for him to remain calm in front of such beauty.

And so, in a feverish state of mind, a banquet was held.

Naturally, the commander, Zykl, was seated at the far end of the banquet, and the assembled "generals" - all ranks except for the common soldiers - gathered to enjoy drinks and food.

But the best part of the evening was the spectacle of a troupe of traveling entertainers.

Originally, the purpose of the troupe was to treat the generals and let them vent their frustrations, but Zykl forgot his original goal and gasped at the appearance of the dancing princess.

He took a sip of sake to quench his thirst, moistened his tongue, lips, and throat, and regained his breath.

Zykl's mind was that enthralled.

???: "Tonight, I present to you the Dance of the End of the Great Waterfall, home of our Maihime. Please enjoy this dance from the end of the world to your heart's content."

A musician's voice began to sing, and the sound of strings being plucked became a gentle music.

As the unfamiliar music began to play, even the "generals" who had been chatting noisily until then choked up with red faces, trying not to take their eyes off the upcoming dance.

And then...

Zykl: "----"

And then, the beautiful dance of the princess slowly began.

???: "----"

Everyone was speechless as she danced, using her long arms and legs and swaying her black hair.

They forgot to breathe and watched. --No, mesmerized was the correct word. It was crazy to be able to keep one's mind intact while witnessing such an amazing dance.

This was the sensibility of a beast that does not understand the value of dance.

The Imperial Guard was a pack of wolves, but they were not beasts without intelligence or language.

Therefore, the "generals" also gasped, forgot to breathe, and were mesmerized by the beautiful dance of the princess.

All of them lost their voices and were mesmerized by the dance of the princess.

They were mesmerized by her nubile black hair, her smooth, white skin without a single stain, and her beautifully crafted magical face that would make artists want to cut off their dominant arm.

But it was neither of these factors that drew Zykl's gaze, consciousness, or heart.

--It was the eyes.

After all, he could not take his eyes off the dancer's eyes.

The long, slit eyes glared at the dancing stage, staring at Zykl at the far end of the hall.

It was those eyes that never left Zykl's brain, grabbing him directly and refusing to let go.

Eventually, Maihime slowly made her way across the hall and stepped in front of Zykl.

Gently kneeling down, she held out her hands and asked for Zykl's sword.

Zykl understood that this was a natural gesture to ask for a sword.

The Maihime's dance increases in heat, darkens in color, and moves to the next stage as she takes control of the world. In the transition to the sword dance with swords, Maihime wants the swords.

Zykl did not have the option of not giving it to her.

No one could stop him. No one, not his subordinates, not the "general," could interfere with his actions.

It was so natural that it was almost as if this was something that was predetermined.

So...

???: "You've lost, Zykl Osman."

Even after listening to the ruthless declaration of the man with the drawn sword at his throat, Zykl Osman could not understand that he had been defeated because of his "womanizing".

Zykl: "----"

He could not take his eyes off the eyes of Maihime as she said this, even at that moment.

The cold, captivating charisma of the woman - it was as if he had seen it somewhere before, and the feeling of déjà vu kept burning in the brain of the defeated general, Zykl.