Successionmanga - Succession Manga - Tumblr Blog

Chapter 46

The castle chefs greet Lilia, you know, due to all being spies. She tells them about Orcelito's whereabouts and they discuss what's taking Lobnec so damn long. So they'll stay the course and cooperate for now...

Kiliko, with a guard, reviews that Belca is not with Eco and that Eco is probably still alive despite the whole falling from a bridge thing. He is led into a garden which leads into a cave...

While that's happening, an attendant leads some guy around and they reveal they're planning on making a church...much to that guy's pleasure. He's the king and that's the origin of the garden according to the high priest talking to Belca. Then, before the king (Reitz) fell ill, he left the monk there his records for the Judgement Day that will inevitably come.

The High Priest has been safeguarding the books for generations but it has recently been inherited after it was brought out of the royal palace. Why is the High Priest telling Belca about this? Because Hector showed interest in the book. Belca asks that when The Plague is under control, may he see the book? The High Priest agrees...and Kiliko, listening outside the door, has heard everything. Now he knows how Reitz really felt...welp, time to barge in!

Meanwhile, Tenrou, Shingetsu and the knights are fighting monsters in the sewers! Shingetsu holds the main knight's hand because the lamplight freaks him out. Tenrou gets mad, the knight gets an erection.

Anyway, Kiliko greets Belca, apologizing for the trouble the Crows have been causing him. Belca is pissed but forces himself to calm down, saying he'll play nice if he and his group are provided with weapons. Also, don't fuck with the Hokulea. Kiliko agrees and says he'll help out...then he whispers to Belca that his father's men are coming for him.

Belca crossdresses, Orcelito bumps into the elders' men below the caves, Musca informs others about the symbols and...Sparrow Hawk snitches that Kiliko isn't on his side anymore.

Speedy wrap-up. Next chapter will be longer.

Chapter 45

Lord Lagen writes his son a letter if Orcelito doesn't recover, Prince Belca---

Anyway, Lord Lagen says The Plague has a cure and Belca needs to be separated from his territory in order to be used as a pawn. Also, keep using the drugs that don't kill people. Kiliko answers the Sparrow Hawk that if he opposes Belca's group now, they will not have access to the cure so he will handle the matter by himself. Sparrow Hawk politely tells him they do not have time for that and asks him to make Lord Lagen's wish a priority. Kiliko tries to protest but Sparrow Hawk puts his very sharp nails to Kiliko's throat, ominously saying that he will not trouble his father. Kiliko asks if that's a threat and Sparrow Hawk denies it, disappearing in a gust of wind (?!) while telling Kiliko not to hesitate to call. Kiliko then reflects that the allies he has are his guys in Adin, the Crows, and Lizelotte the countess/duchess. A guard comes in and says they couldn't find any clues about the scholar and Kiliko informs him that Lord Lagen is still alive. They need to hide Belca from Sparrow Hawk...

Meanwhile, Ramses the not-guard complains about Lilia fucking up while riding with his scholar buddy. He's only helping for the history, us nerds being willing to betray our entire country if we're given the possibility of having something interesting to read. So it's off to Theon's mansion...

Paige and Musca are traveling to Shize before Paige spots a familiar face outside the carriage, getting worried...as she should be, because that familiar face is "Ramses" with his scholar buddy. Musca and Paige, outside the carriage, bump into them intentionally so that Paige can confirm her suspicions. That's when Musca points out the scholar was reading a book with weird letters...

Meanwhile, Lizelotte's carriage is stopped by guards who have to search around, subtly creeping on her in the process. A few hours ago outside of Neue Favrille, Belca's group debates their next course of action. Shingetsu says they can't save Orcelito as long as they're there so they'll have to reach him through the underground tunnel in the Stone Fort. Belca is worried about them getting lost so three knights offer to accompany them. Back in the present, Belca is hit with the ol' nostalgia as he finally gets inside Neue Favrille after nearly half a year outside the walls. It's not even unstable anymore...although, he has be called Marie Belle while he's in disguise. Lizelotte is informed of the theft at the archives and is told she will be escorted by the King's Sword.

At the Hierarchy Gate, they have to show their identification papers because of the kingdom being on high alert. They manage to get through but there are six more doors ahead of them so they're not confident about their future success. Belca complains they should have used the underground cave too...and Tenko promptly takes them to another one, Belca having just reminded him of its existence. It's the "Gardener's Secret Passage" and it leads to the cathedral. They walk through and someone cuts them off from up ahead...

Meanwhile, turns out our captive maid wasn't as captive as we thought, escaping in a guard's disguise...well done, Lilia.

Orcelito comes upon two guards and asks them for the key of the stone cave that leads to the cathedral. Glad that their Prince is feeling better, they lead him away...followed closely by a disguised Lilia.

They open the door and prepare to give him his rites against evil...and he walks past them. They call for him to come back but Orcelito tells them to close the door and to tell Kiliko to finish things up with that cure. He's the prince; gotta obey him.

Back to Belca's group, the guy that cut them is the attendant for the priest who shows them a secret room...while offering them food!

They sit at a table and are greeted by the High Priest. He then implies he knows about Reitz...and what happened to Hector.

At the Neue Favrille's Land at the Theon Street Mansion, the chapter ends with the scholar revealing to the Lord inside the real secret of the Rovisco's journal. Namely, it's not what's written but who wrote it...King Reitz himself.

Chapter 44

Eco tries to make small talk with the King's Sword's commander. It goes predictably:

The Commander confirms the Hokulea will not be touched as long as he is guiding them. One of the soldiers asks if he's seen Eco before...and Eco tells him not to flirt with him.

At the gate to Neue Favrille, the countess sneaks Belca past the gate...with him in drag (again) on Orcelito's orders. Linna and Tenko are snuck inside as attendants.

At Regia Solaris, Orcelito is told by Kiliko that the envoys have picked up Belca, the duchess being chosen because she was a peer with Kiliko when he was young. She was also told to bring Eco along if she recognizes him. Before he goes, he informs Orcelito that Lilia is the head maid. When Kiliko leaves, Orcelito notes that Kiliko has changed, becoming more compassionate over time...but, that newfound human heart is going to just increase the number of deaths...anyway, he gets up to shut the door only to overhear the guards' "rumor" that he has The Plague.

Outside, some guards are discussing Theon's mansion before the old man comes by to steal one of their apples in front of them. They share with him...while discussing the old maid being tortured and interrogated in the castle's keep.

Back to Orcelito, he overhears that the old scholar has disappeared with Rovisco's documents. Oh, and the head maid in the keep has been killed. Musca and Paige watch the clean up crew, Musca being pissed because "you can't hold a mop in front of a lady" (?!). But Musca is in disguise to be let out of the castle so she can't complain, her Karen powers restricted. Anyway, off to Shizu.

Kiliko sends out a manhunt for the scholar and wonders if Lilia needs to be interrogated...drug interrogated. Then Lord Lagen's own Crow, the "Sparrow Hawk" comes to greet Kiliko at his window. Kiliko is shocked because this means his father is alive. A peek at daddy dearest shows he's not exactly pleased with his boy going soft, working for Orcelito instead of against him. Looks like it's time for him to take manners into his own hands...

At the Neue Favrille's Town Area, the duchess tells Belca that Orcelito wants him to use the house as a base to develop the cure. Belca says they don't have time for this because Orcelito might die any day. The duchess says that Orcelito wanted Belca away from him because he'll be targeted if he goes to the palace, what with the spies and all. The elders are moving in on the royal family and they know that Orcelito has The Plague. They will try to win Belca over to their side. Rushtaru's attendants overhear and panic about needing a cure but Rushtaru says that this situation is a direct order from the prince so they have to wait for the cure. Belca and everyone get ready to work but Rushtaru ends the chapter with a secret request: save Orcelito for Kiliko. You see, Rushtaru does not work for the Lagens. She works for Kiliko.

Chapter 43

Musca is mad because she didn't get an letter from her brother but instead a stupid invitation for stupid tea.

It's the letter from Lady Rushtaru that was given to the lady-in-waiting the last chapter, inviting Musca for tea. The lady herself, Lizelotte, happily welcomes them to her tea room and Musca calms down. Lizelotte drones on about fairies and flowers...which freaks out the lady-in-waiting, who heard a similar story about a fairy that would warn the prince in a voice that no one else could hear. A servant comes by with dessert (apple pie) and spills soup on the lady-in-waiting. Lizelotte apologizes and has the lady-in-waiting sent back with Musca to change her dress to one from her own wardrobe. Musca says Lizelotte gives off a soldier's aura, even though she's a lady.

Back with Belca's group, the rain has stopped but they're still sloughing along like bitches. Tenko wants to stop and rest for the night but Shingetsu spots a knight from the Stone Capital in the distance. He rides up, recognizing Prince Belca and introduces himself as a member of the King's Army, specifically the Vixen group. He says Commander Edovald Vixen is camping up ahead and he himself was sent to get them. They can stay with them for the night. The Vixens will now be defending Belca on the way to the castle! All is well...aside from the fact that there is Hokulea in Belca's group, clearly making the King's Army uncomfortable.

Belca says if they have a problem with that, he won't join up with them. The knight apologizes, saying that they heard what happened in Kamino and how the Hokulea were responsible for The Plague being treated. He says the reaction of the troops are due to everyone still mourning Hector's death. Apparently, everyone thinks that if the Hokulea hadn't helped, Hector would still be alive. Hearing that, Belca says the Hokulea are to be treated as guests which the knight agrees to. He then asks for water for the horses which the knight also agrees to. The knight then says Belca's group will be escorted by five elite knights and followed by the rest on foot.

At Regia Solaris, Kiliko confiscates the journal from the maid who turns out to be a renegade princess. He says not only will he decipher the code in her love letter, he'll also have Lamuzesu investigated. Orcelito, worried about the elders' underlings and The Plague, says it's too dangerous for Belca to come over. He tells Kiliko to make a residence in the district a base, have the King's Army protect it and have the district's medics learn the antidote...he can ask the Hokulea with Belca for help if he needs to. These are just precautions to take until this whole "Maid Lilia" case is done with. Kiliko accepts and says the preparations for the Imperial Villa Shez is finished and asks what should be done about Musca, who is worried about his health. Orcelito says he'll meet her by preparing a room with a curtain so he can talk to her like that. He wants to hear his little sister's voice before dies, of course.

Musca is happy because she can finally see her big brother! She and her lady-in-waiting are on their way to see him before they overhear workers talking about the "rumor" that Orcelito has The Plague. The lady-in-waiting angrily has them arrested but it's too late: Musca has heard everything. She tries to deny it but Musca has seen her head maid's expression; it's the truth. Kiliko tells Musca and her lady-in-waiting (whose name is PAIGE. Finally!) to keep what they see and hear a secret when they see Orcelito. Musca goes over to Orcelito but he tells her to keep her distance from the curtain, bumming her the fuck out because she wants to see her brother's face. She begins to sob, the reality that her brother has the same disease that killed her mother finally sinking in. Orcelito assures her that Belca will come soon with the cure but she still needs to be careful: she's young so if she catches The Plague, she might not survive it. So he tells her to stay at the Shez where it's safe. So he can focus on getting better without worrying about her.

Musca leaves, having agreed to stay in the Shez. But NOT before telling Kiliko not to "bully her big brother". She'll be leaving tomorrow and there's more good news: the code has been deciphered! It was written Da Vinci style, upside-down, backward, in cursive while using a mirror. Lilia was snitching on Orcelito's condition. Orcelito asks if Lamuzesu will be arrested and Kiliko says he won't; they'll just guard the mail room more closely. Kiliko tells him to get his rest and asks about his ink, saying he has been writing more often; Orcelito says that he just keep making memos to himself because his memory is going...

Outside, Lamu asks Ingrid the maid about Lilia and Ingrid says she's sick. Lamu asks if she would give her some flowers he brought her and Ingrid...becomes a human carrier pigeon as a bunch of people give her messages, only for Kiliko to intercept them and demand for them to be deciphered.

Belca and his group have made it to Neue Favrille but it's quiet...too quiet. The chapter ends with them being greeted by, of all people, Lizelotte.

Chapter 42

While riding on a horse, Belca begins to wonder if he can trust Kiliko's right-hand man, that Crow guy whose name I can't remember. He killed a bunch of Hokulea and he put Belca's life in mortal danger more than once. But he wants to see his brother...and Linna has his back. And so do the Hokulea. So it's over the bridge. The bridge that breaks, leaving the group sitting ducks for the defending army. They look screwed until the King's Sword shows up as back up, attacking the guards to let them pass. Eco watches from afar, guessing they lost...but stating he kept an eye on Tenko the whole time.

At Neue Favrille's Intermediate Servants' Dormitory, the guard from the last two chapters is spooked by a guy putting his hand on him, thinking one of Lagen's men is about to jump him...only to see a priest behind him. The priest (Peter) calms the guard (Hans) and says he and his men are only there to confirm information. They say there was something strange in the results of the medical examination while introducing himself. Apparently, Orcelito's condition is worsening so Hans holds off on going to see him. Then Peter has something to tell Hans...

But fuck that, Orcelito is coughing up blood!

He's disturbingly chill about it though, cleaning himself up and saying he still has time. Kiliko walks in to tell him that Duke Mefuraru has a funeral coming up and his son will inherit the position. Ain't gonna be that big of a ceremony, what with The Plague and all. Back to Mefuraru, the report says he died in an accident...caused by his weakness because of The Plague. That's a dead Elder...which means he needs to be replaced with a successor. This whole Plague problem has made the citizens lose faith in the Elders since they couldn't take care of it. Orcelito makes a note to rebuild the citizens' trust when he revamps the system...but everyone's dying too soon. If the succession happens, he'll have to start from square one again. He'll send a representative to the funeral...and leave the picking of the successor to Kiliko. He then asks him if he gave the maids who cleaned the room a day off. Kiliko says he gave them a vacation...

Kiliko leaves, ignoring Orcelito's cry to stay...but he does tell him that he sent someone to welcome Belca. He'll leave that matter to Orcelito to clean up.

Musca wakes up and is greeted by her lady-in-waiting. She was going to read the maid's letter...and passed out from exertion. But she couldn't have read it anyway because the lady-in-waiting identified it as being in a different language. Specifically, a code designed between two people for only them to understand. The lady-in-waiting doesn't understand it and Musca wants Orcelito to get better. The lady-in-waiting comforts her while wondering why the maids are being given so many vacations...before a knock on the door interrupts her train of thought. The maid gives her a letter from Duchess Rushutaru...

The chapter ends with Hans leading the guards down to apprehend the old man who was deciphering Rovisco's records.

Chapter 41

We open on Captain Rovisco about to set sail despite his bosses' misgivings, his lover coming with him. Turns out there's a mysterious disease going around on his home island that affects the genomes and reduced the life expectancy by 60%. The birth rates have also declined due to the genes responsible for reproduction going with the corpses. People have been developing artificial limbs and organs to increase their life expectancy, though something called the acceleration furnace cannot be invented because...reasons. The reasons being it was caught in a literal goddamn tornado and disappeared. A conversation between Rovisco and Reitz reveals that Rovisco is shocked that Reitz is completely flesh and blood, no machines needed to keep him alive. When they get to the Hokulea's place, they feel like they've found the Promised Land.

Then Reitz kills him. End of (incredibly short) chapter.

Chapter 40

A maid writes in her diary about her Kiliko was invited to a banquet and how her wrist has yet to heal. Then she leaves to clean Orcelito's bedroom.

At the Western side of Azelprade in the Baltic Region at Galt Blitz in the Mare Road Sea, Lord Orbus is bugging about all the lords dying around him. He thinks he might be next before his attendant comes with another message. Still freaking out, he calms himself because he's a noble; he's too rich for anxiety. The letter he gets is a record (most likely from the maid) on Orcelito from autumn of last year. Him not being much of a reader, he gives it to his attendant to summarize. The attendant then tells him they have almost arrived at Lord Baltic's villa which they will go to on a small boat.

The two lords greet each other warmly, Lord Baltic stating that Lord Tein, Lord Arthur, the Rubeli Duchess and Lord Katerina are all waiting inside. Once inside, he asks everyone their opinions on the Neue Favrille case. They obviously want the medicine to stop because they didn't sign off on it and it costs them money. While they trade theories for why this is happening in the first place, Orbus wonders if he should tell them about Orcelito's sickness. He does...for the glory. The gathered lords know they don't have any real evidence but they will take advantage as soon as possible...

Orbus goes to bed a hopeful man, hoping he can step out one day as Belca's guardian...

Meanwhile, Prince Belca's group reaches the Stone Capital. A guy named Kareru Teio, claiming to serve as the Hero King's spirit, talks them into lowering the gate. They get let in but they're on a time limit: the highness is having a conference with Orbus.

Londalea's retainer goes out to meet them and apologize for the wait. Also...Orcelito doesn't want to see him. On account of politics and all that. Belca knows there's a heavy risk in going somewhere where he is persona non grata...but he still wants to talk to Orcelito himself. So it's out the door into the rain. Or it would be, if it wasn't for the fact that the rain caused a flood from the river.

Meanwhile, Musca's lady-in-waiting is worrying over how a simple maid knows how to write a letter and seal it with wax. That's not exactly a peasant skill...Musca figures out that she's worrying about the letter rather quickly and tells her that she will protect her no matter what. The lady-in-waiting is touched.

At the Regis Solaris, the two confront the maid and...invite her to tea. She reveals the recipient of the letters as Lilia, who is writing love letters to some guy named Lamuzesu. Musca then wants to send a crown of leaves to her brother.

Meanwhile, a guard ends the chapter sneaking through the castle to find the Lagen's family's secrets.

This can only be on this specific blog.

guys i just got the best anon ever idk if i can post this i want to keep it framed in my inbox forever.

Chapter 39

A few days ago in Vieze Kamino, Tenko straight up jumped Linna.

Meanwhile, everyone is listening to Eco play the medieval equivalent of "WAP" at the banquet. Belca wonders if it's alright to take the Hokulea back with him to the Stone Capital; sure, they're accepted in Kamino but they're called Amontel back home. The Hokulea are the only ones who can administer the cure properly; if it was a matter of following a treatment plan, this wouldn't be a problem. He tries to ask Tenko for advice...but Tenko isn't there. Discovering Linna isn't there either, he runs out to find them.

Linna is fighting off Tenko to the best of his ability but he's quickly disarmed. Tenko says it's a shame he's not at full health or they might have had a better fight. Belca sees them and freaks out while Tenko asks Linna why he doesn't stay in Kamino to heal himself. He can't protect Belca like that. Linna says he swore he would always be by Belca's side but Tenko says in Linna's current state, he's a liability. Belca's gonna care about him even if he's not with him; he's soft like that. Tenko then makes Linna Belca's First Squire; not a fancy position but should give Linna what he wants. Tenko himself is content being a specter of Hector's will. He warns Linna not to become like him. Belca sneaks off after hearing all that.

At the Tein Dukedom Lobnec in the Eastern Highlands City Wilhem, the couriers are delivering medicine! At the Southwest, at the Lobnec Taine Villa, a lord says he hasn't given permission for that. At the Ruebelli Dukedom, territory of the Theon Government, the lady there is mad too. She explains how royalty works, from earls to dukes to viceroys (Cheat Sheet: Kings-Presidents, Viceroys-Senators, Earls-Mayors).

At the Orbus Dukedom Rondalea, in Duke Orbus' Villa, Orbus thinks that Kiliko is behind the medicine thing and he's panicking because he might lost control of Orcelito. Now Orbus definitely needs Belca on his side. Good news for him: his niece is coming over. Better news: a spy in the castle says that Orcelito and Kiliko (The Girls) are fighting...

Meanwhile, Musca is eating while worrying about her mercenary career. The head maid arrives to take her away and tell her that Musca will go to Shez Villa. Musca asks if Orcelito will go with her but the head maid tells her that he will be heading there for one day only the day before. Musca says she doesn't want to go and the head maid coldly tells her that it's already been decided. Musca throws a tantrum and the head maid reminds her that she promised she would behave if she taught her how to read. Musca ignores her and the head maid says if she keeps disobeying her, her promises will mean nothing. Musca tells her to fuck off and she'll do what she wants. The head maid snaps and says she's been getting in trouble for Musca screwing up and that she'll be executed if Musca keeps it up. Musca finally calms down, saying she doesn't like the maid but that doesn't mean she deserves to die on her account. She'll protest within reason...like a lady.

In Orcelito's room, Kiliko is gloating over his plan working and leaves telling Orcelito the books he's trying to research are being recovered and saved.

Musca and her lady-in-waiting (Head Maid) bribe another maid so that they can scheme. While out, the lady-in-waiting is confused when they bump into another maid who has jewelry...and can read...

On horseback, Belca catches up to Eco and the old man, everybody riding to the Stone Capital to take on the army. They leave Rondelea to approach the border.

Lord Orbus is about to set sail on his boat only for him to stopped by one of his messengers. Duke Melfar has been caught in a landslide and is missing! End chapter!

Chapter 38

Prince Belca is greeted by the populace as he returns to Kamino.

And he's wearing Hokulea clothes!

Tenko welcomes him back and offers to fix his hair later. He then greets Linna and gives him and Belca horses to ride. Looking on as they ride through the city, Linna notes Belca's not just his prince anymore...

Belca gets back to headquarters and asks if there were any changes since he left. Tenko starts off by saying the herbs for the cure are being gathered and food is being passed out but Shingetsu snatches Linna away to take some of the Hokulea to a medic, saying he should come too. Linna says his wounds are almost healed but Belca orders him to get someone to check him out.

While getting his check-up, Linna tells Shingetsu about the "Dzintars". He says it means "golden stone" and Shingetsu says it's a beautiful name. She's glad he's alive but Linna is still frustrated that he can't do anything here Shingetsu then asks if Linna has been preparing the medicated soups with Belca before saying they don't need them anymore...

Meanwhile, some Hokulea named Kentyuu has a tiny bottle of medicine fall out of his pocket while he's getting looked at...it's the same bottle of poison they were going to give Linna.

Also, Lord Orbus gets a letter from Neue Favrille. He's happy about the army being deployed at first only to then find out Orcelito has fallen ill. So this would be an excellent opportunity for him to push Belca on the throne. 'Course, that just leaves the Round Table Knights to take care of...

At Neue Favrille's Regis Solaris, Orcelito is still overlooking Rovisco's documents. Kiliko calls from outside, saying he wants to come in. Orcelito says talk to him from outside but Kiliko says it's really important. Orcelito, still sick, says Kiliko is his arms and legs so he can't risk him catching The Plague only for Kiliko to reveal that he has a letter from Prince Belca. Orcelito tells him to take the amulet from his shelf to feel safer (MEDICINE!) and come in.

So Kiliko tells him what happened at the monastery and shows him Belca's hair, saying that he'll return some day. Kiliko says he can punish his men for overlooking him but Orcelito says they don't have the time for that. Orcelito then asks if Belca is coming back, is Eco coming with him? He still thinks Eco is after the throne. Kiliko points out if that was the case, Eco wouldn't have helped when the Royal Government caught The Plague. Also, he knows the tradition. If he disliked it, he would have left the Lagen family. He has his reservations but he has one person in Kamino; he'll have them spy on Eco to see if he stops Belca or not.

Outside, Ingrid the maid is dropping dishes all over the place because she's terrified of The Plague and she heard Orcelito has it. The other maid tells her to just switch to another job and, when Ingrid who would do her job, the maid answers she'll do it. In exchange, the maid asks Ingrid to take her letters to the archives where a friend of hers works. She doesn't them to worry about her, you see. Ingrid agrees happily.

Oh and Orcelito gets another message from the king's army: there was a massacre. Orcelio thinks Linna, Seamrog and the Hokulea are using Belca but he's cut off by nearly coughing himself into passing out. Looking at the hair he's holding onto, he notes Belca's hair looks like Kiliko's. It's then he explains Belca's mom came from Adin. She was invited to a party because the king was looking for a new concubine (Basically, medieval Flavor of Love). She was called upon as an Adine (dancer) for entertainment. She was hot and the king, just looking to make an heir in the first, immediately chose her. The thing though is that she also became close with the Queen. And apparently it wasn't the king's idea to send Hector to boarding school. Anyway, most of the Lagen's family members are black-haired and so is Belca. He suspects there might be a connection there but a clearly shaken Kiliko says that can't be; his father would never do something like that. Also, the Adines always have black hair. Orcelito says that if Belca has Rovisco's blood...he can't finish because he went into another coughing fit. He then says he will take all the elders with him before The Plague does him in. Kiliko accuses him of breaking his promise to leave the country to him. Orcelito tries to get Kiliko to help Belca but Kiliko says that Orcelito must lead the country, moving on him and threatening to get sick with him if he doesn't nut up, despite Orcelito's protests.

Kiliko says if that upsets him, he needs to live. Orcelito wonders why is he being so supportive considering he's the one who killed Hector. He answers that if this world is built upon hatred and resentment, he's another victim of it who kills for selfish reasons. If there is still light in the world, he wants to see it. He may be a gear for his family but this way, he can choose to be Orcelito's gear.

In Kamino, Eco is playing music.

Linna has to tell him to shut up because he's basically playing Pornocore but Eco complains he made the song for Linna. Belca comes over to gag him, telling Tenko that it's a miracle The King's Sword and the peasants didn't fight. Tenko agrees and says for now, they should focus on treating The Plague which they will need the support of the nobles to do. Tenko will persuade them because if they help and Belca gets more popular, they get more power. This will also get them medical assistance so it's two birds with one stone. Eco says if he's trying not to make enemies, he's sucking at it because Lord Orbus is not going to sit on his hands during that...but fuck it, party! Shingetsu tells Linna the attendant he saved is alive and Linna is happy about that. Rat Snitch Eco the Good Time Ruiner reveals the small bottle of poison that fell out of Kengyuu's pocket, revealing it's not poison at all but basic sleeping medicine that the Lagens use. They then talked about the guy that killed the guy in front of Belca whose name is Echo. He's none other than Kiliko's right-hand man. He's the guy who does the wet work for the Lagen family and his name isn't Crow as I've been calling him; his group is called the Crows. He's practically a super-solider due to the medicines he takes and his name used to be Irya when he was recognizably human. Seamrog says if Kiliko wants to work with Belca, all is well. However, Tenko drops a drama bomb: that Plague in Neue Favrille is probably a fake.

Belca says okay...party time! Then they can go to Neue Favrille to handle this nonsense.

The chapter ends with a messenger from Orbus arriving to Kamino to see Belca, only to hear he has left for Neue Favrille.

Chapter 37

It's fighting time.

But Belca says no, stepping forward between the two forces.

He asks Kiliko's men if the story they told him was true. When Crow says yes, Belca says he will go to Neue Favrille. However, he can't go with them at the moment. He and his crew need time to prepare ingredients for the cure and, to secure the cooperation of the Hokulea, the Stone Capital need to overturn a law that was passed the other day. Crow says he hears him but he can't promise the whole "stop the law that's actively harming Hokulea" thing. But Kiliko will hear Belca's answer and they will contact him. They've already sent a messenger bird. Belca cuts his hair and gives it to Crow as proof that the two have spoken. Then Kiliko's men retreat.

Later, the men ask Crow if it was alright to retreat like that. Crow says with the amount of Hokulea there, there was no way they could get Belca out of there while ensuring his safety. If they want things to go smoothly, they need to ensure Belca's cooperation...no matter how many of their own messengers they have to kill.

Tenko talks with the leader of the King's Sword, the latter incredulous that the peasants want to take on the royal fucking army. But meanwhile, maybe Orbus' mansion can be used as a medical center during the stalemate. Whatever happens, they cannot give up at the very beginning. The leader walks off, telling his second-in-command that they've already wasted tons of food and provisions waiting around; they can't go back home empty-handed.

The other gang is taking Belca back to Kamino on a cart, Belca waking up and wondering if the whole night was a dream. Then he sees Linna.

Then they catch some fish.

At the palace, Kiliko slaps a maid to the ground when he learns that she was keeping information of her fellow workers dying from the Plague from him, asking if she was trying to kill the entire castle. He threatens to kill her if Orcelito has one problem because of this. The maids are given a "vacation" as Kiliko stomps off. The head maid goes to check on Musca, who thinks about how complicated things have gotten...and still hates her new wet nurse. She sneaks out to join up with Orcelito, running past his guards and pounding on his door. Orcelito, or rather Orcelito's voice, tells her to go away as Kiliko comes over. He ends the job, telling her to go back to her room.

Chapter 36

The peasants are reacting predictably to the news Belca didn't show up:

The King's Sword's leader approaches Tenko, saying if the peasants will not surrender, they will attack. And if that happens, they'll fight Tenko too.

We get a flashback to Tenko planning the whole day out, even knowing what The King's Sword will approach from...then we cut back to Tenko spilling the beans that Belca went off to save one of his servants so what do they think he'll do for all of them? He then tells them to trust Belca and lower their weapons. The peasants are still reluctant but then Eco sings his song about Belca...and then Belca shows up.

Eco and Seamrog chat after the song, saying that they see their heroics as transactional and they're only helping out to get something. Eco hopes that he plays nice with Belca, he'll get some riches...but Seamrog doesn't have to worry about that because he got a big gem from Musca already. Eco points out that that's the jewel the royals give their future spouses. Seamrog has the appropriate reaction:

Back at the palace, Kiliko says the herbs have been gathered for the cure but they still don't have enough citron. It's not a usual crop in the area so they had to plant more. The royal family will be among the first treated. He leaves Orcelito along with a bell to call him and Orcelito goes to bed, noting he's turning out like his ancestor Reitz. He wonders if it's right for a guy with tainted blood like his to rule over a kingdom...

Interestingly, Belca is a bastard and doesn't even have the same hair color. Would he be better? Hmm...nah. Orcelito has already decided to take the kingdom back from the elders. Slowly, of course. Can't rock the boat too much...but he dozes off thinking he speed things up a bit.

Meanwhile, Kiliko's Elite Guard, led by Black, are taking down the Hokulea before Belca and Linna jump in to help. After a battle, Crow stops the fight and asks for Belca to return with them. Belca asks how he thinks being a violent dick to his allies was going to make him come back with him only for Crow to say The Plague has been claiming lives in Neue Favrille. And Orcelito is worried so...

The priests come by to yell at Crow to hurry up and capture the Hokulea. When Crow won't work as fast as he likes, he orders his own men to seize him...

So Crow slits his throat.

Crow says he wasn't fit for the job anyway.

He apologizes to Belca for showing him something so unsightly only for Tenrou to call out, "Damn! His own crew!" (paraphrased). He ends the chapter by revealing more Hokulea, saying he just brought the reinforcements.

Chapter 35

The peasants are about to attack at Kamino but the main guards of the city are facing off against The King's Sword. The King's Sword forces the peasants back, the commander saying that an extension of the king's will, they have a reputation to uphold, especially considering the disaster at the coronation ceremony. However, they're up against a group that has managed to hold the line despite the lack of morale, making him wonder what would happen if the gate was demolished. He then orders the rebels destroyed.

Meanwhile at the nunnery, Tenko mentally notes that the nuns are gone and the Hokulea are missing. The whole raid itself is kind of weird upon inspection...

Anyway, the priests figure out quickly that the crossdressing young man is in fact Belca while Linna begs for him not to get hurt on his account. However, the priests say that there is no way royalty would crossdress as a nun to save a lowly guard and order Belca seized. The priests descend on him...only to be stopped by a guard. He then bows before Belca, asking why he's dressed like that. One of the priests, calling him Crow, asks how does he believe that's Belca? As Belca and Linna heartwarmingly get ready to brawl in the background, Crow tries to talk to them too only for Black to dart out, screaming that something's coming before Hokulea break through the door...

A flashback to 2 days earlier in Kamino, Tenko turns out to be the one who talked Belca into taking a detour to save Linna. Belca tried to argue that stopping the riots was more important but says "His Highness is not my puppet.". He says he's been using Belca to help the Hokulea; now it's Belca's turn to use him. Shingetsu, overhearing, says the Hokulea will help too; always nice to have someone who can see in the dark. Belca is still reluctant until Tenko says the King's Guard are going by that place anyway.

Back to the present, the nuns are escaping in the confusion while Black is being run ragged trying to gain a hold on the situation. Then he has to go up against Tenrou...

Belca and Linna try to escape but are cut off by Crow, only for Shingetsu to hold him off with an arrow. Seeing that Belca and Linna got away, the Hokulea give themselves permission to retreat. String Boy has most of them tied up but the Elite Guard break out through the window. Belca and Linna talk outside, Belca revealing that a man in the mountains should be meeting up with the nuns along with the priest that helped Linna. The priest also got Belca his disguise! Belca takes it off when Linna calls him sweet as honey.

It's time to go but Shingetsu sees something ahead. A royal ninja has caught up, realizing they were making a diversion for a rescue...

The peasants, upon seeing the King's Sword, freeze when they realize they can't win. One kid grabs a sword and dashes off, calling them pussies and saying they're all gonna die from the Plague anyway. Seeing and hearing that, they are inspired to fight with him. Before the forces can clash, they are interrupted by Tenko on horseback who says more bodies won't solve anything. The peasants are overjoyed; Belca has come to help them! The chapter ends with Tenko correcting them; Prince Belca is not here.

Chapter 34

Shingetsu and another Hokulea watch a procession of soldiers go by near Orbus' mountain villa. Orbus himself is all dressed up and waiting for the army to come to his rescue. That'll teach them peasants to get uppity. Still, he says it's a problem that Eco's song is drawing more people's hearts towards Belca, meaning he has to now choose who to throw his support behind for the coronation of the crown: Belca or Orcelito.

Anyway, the refugees get word that the army has come to their town. They panic before a guy tells them to shut up, saying if they split up, they'll die but if a large army is gathering in one area in order to attack then...

Orcelito is currently being served citron tea by Kiliko, just to be on the safe side. Orcelito admits that Eco's method for helping Kamino is probably better compared to his plans so he should be learning instead of dismissing. He tells Kiliko to prepare lemons for the people and Kiliko says he'll see what he can do, even though the season isn't really good for it. Also, they need to prepare for the Plague in the Stone Capital itself. It's time to show some mettle...after all, there's no point in being king of the dead.

Then he gets sick.

At Vieze Kamino, Belca is gathering information on how to fight the army at the checkpoint. Seamrog says they have no weapons so they need to stop the people from fighting a losing battle. They need to reach their feelings, perfect work for the group's bard, Eco. It's showtime soon (and Akage, the gay Hokulea who I keep forgetting to mention, is there too).

Later, Belca is told by Tenko that he is making Hector's dream come true...then in Rondarea territory, on the outskirts of Tiida at Neue Farville Nunnery, Linna and the attendant are being held hostage by Kiliko's Knights. Black tells Linna he and all the other monks here will be fine...but when they leave, the whole building is being burned down. He leaves the beaten and bloodied attendant in the room with Linna, where the latter apologizes for getting Linna mixed up in this. Linna is bummed out...but also understandably confused. He was impaled by a freaking gate. How the hell did he survive that? More importantly, can he still help Belca like this?

At the Gates of Vieze Kamino, the doors are opened, confusing the approaching army. The guards walk out peacefully...

Meanwhile, Linna has had enough with his hostage situation, freeing himself of his bindings in front of the attendant. He's still injured but he grabs the attendant and helps him escape, telling him to steal a horse from the barn. He goes to the food storage where he's confronted by a guard. Praising Linna for his ballisiness, he tells him he'll let the attendant go. Linna is quickly captured and yelled at for defying Kiliko. Linna shouts back that they need to stop bringing in unrelated people from the monastery and they tell him to shut up, saying that Kiliko said he needed to be treated like he was a guest but if he was going to keep "antagonizing" them, they're at their limit. They send for "that", a drug that happens to be the same one that killed Hector. Before he's forced to ingest it, the guy in charge says that Belca is has led an army to Kamino to stop the uprising so Linna should give up on fixing anything there. Linna, knowing Belca's will will break if anything were to happen to him, bemoans his fate...before the monastery is attacked by Hokuleas...who are led by BELCA.

And he's dressed as Marie Belle!

The chapter ends with a scribe discovering something underneath the skin of the front binding of a book...

Chapter 33

A Hokulea watches the cargo leave Kamino, happy. Then he's not happy when he sees something!

At the road south of Kuckland, in Londonlea district office at the Orubas Mansion, refugees are gathering outside, begging Lord Orubas to save them from The Plague. One of the guards tells them to fuck off, saying Lord Orubas isn't there. The refugees say he ran off and, with their situation getting increasingly worse by the day, they gather their farming tools, ready to take manners into their own hands...

Meanwhile, Orcelito is being served a meal, ruminating on the fact that despite the lessened death toll, no one's happy. Families don't get to bury their dead...maybe they have found a way to cure the plague in Kamino? No, no that's ridiculous! Kiliko comes in with news from a subordinate, saying that Belca has ignored another of their summons. Orcelito is in disbelief but Kiliko says facts are facts. Belca has changed and so has Orcelito...or was the innocent boy who knew nothing of despair always like this? In another report, the death toll in Kamino has ceased, the cure that has lemon in it is apparently working. But there is some bad news outside of Kamino...in the whole area outside of Kuckland, around Rondalea, there is an outbreak of The Plague. Orcelito asks about Orbus and Kiliko tells him that the Lord wasn't feeling well so he retired to his villa for the time being. A lot of rich folk are leaving their estates for the mountains, actually. Orcelito is outraged, asking if they're abandoning their own people. Kiliko simply answers that since the nobles have left, riots have broken out in their territories. The guards are calling for reinforcements. Reinforcements from the king's own army. So the army is reduced to being mere bodyguards. It's a punk-out on a massive scale.

Meanwhile, with Linna, his guide and him manage to enter Londalea despite the blockade. His guide says it's because of the fact that he's the high priest's attendant. They stop at the monastery so that they can leave early the next day to reach Dita before night. The attendant is about make them open the gate before Linna notices something, pushing the attendant out of the way of a slash from our favorite Elite Guard member answering the door. Kiliko's men have already beat them to the area...

The Hokulea spots the thing, thinking it's a kidnapping, and leaps down to confront them. He identifies them as the "Demons of the Capital". Linna tries to warn him but Red (one of the guards) instigates the battle, confident in his number's advantage with the other guards. He just so happens to have a perfect way of dealing with groups, however, taking out razor sharp wire to take them on. Another named Black impales him with ease though...

At Kamino, everyone is still chill because Belca is there. But then a familiar face shouts at Belca, shocked to run into him: it's the landlord from the mountains! His wife lives in Kamino and is sick so he had to stop here...but hey! Belca is here! Everything will be alright! His reunion with Eco is a lot less cozy, however...

Several guards approach Belca, saying soldiers outside have been encircling the barrier and want to speak to him alone. At the back gate. The injured Hokulea named Amahara informs him that he found a very much alive Linna before escaping from the guards by jumping into the river. Belca asks why hasn't his wounds been treated but the guards say no: no person can get in through the gates...but, given Hokulea are not people, he can let him in with no reprecussions. Belca thanks him, asking for his name but the guard instead gives him a letter. Reading it, Belca finds out about the riots. And the army is being sent to deal with them.

Talking to Shingetsu, Belca says they need to send another message. Shingetsu says just go to Linna like he wants. Belca tells her to focus and she responds with the quote that ends the chapter: "If you let a bird's tail grow too long in order to make it beautiful, it won't fly properly and it will die.".

Chapter 32

A guard is talking with Belca, convinced that he's deluded or brainwashed into supporting the Hokulea, saying he can get him out of there lickeity-split. He reaches for Belca, Belca calls for Tenko and Tenk engages the guard in "banter".

He demands to know what he wants with Belca and the guard says "Geez...chill" and apologizes to Belca before jumping out a window to escape. Tenko says that was definitely one of Kiliko's men and that he made it deliberately easy to follow him. almost as a "come and get me", indicating his skill.

Meanwhile, at Neue Favrille, Linna is walking down a tunnel with guards. It's called the Gardener's Escape Route and it used to be connected to the Royal Palace but now it's used as an onsen (Hot Spring) for noblemen. They have a whole-ass glass ceiling in the place too. Anyway, a carriage arrives for Linna, having received permission to enter the castle gates. Somebody set it up to make meeting with Orcelito a lot easier...

Well, Orcelito gets word that Linna was kidnapped from Kiliko and it was likely the church that did it. The carriage is already gone so it'll be a lot harder to follow but then, to add to the fun, a guard runs in screaming that several of his fellow guards are infected with The Plague, indicating the disease has made it inside the castle.

So on the main road to Kuckland and the outskirts of Kamino, the guards have gathered the refugees to send them back to their own cities. Shit gets stirred up real fast with the refugees screaming for Belca to come and save them before the refugees catch onto a horrifying fact: the guards aren't just getting rid of the dead, they're taking away the sick to kill them before they infect the others, condemning them before they can even die.

At the palace, a nervous Kiliko rides in a carriage while remembering how when he last talked to Linna, he broached the topic of teaming up with Prince Belca which he can only do if Linna talks to him about it first. He then tells him to focus on resting up and healing before saying that he totally thinks that this country should be taken back from the Elder Council and given to the Royal Family again. Linna knows he's bullshitting but if there's the faintest hope of seeing Belca again...

Back at Kamino, Tenko follows Belca outside, saying he should stay because the guard is still at large. Belca snaps back that he's being an annoying puss-puss before calming down and saying they can't accomplish anything if they're on edge so they should do what they can. They have more guards on watch and the palace guards are not allowed to go out alone. The rate of victims to The Plague have decreased so a lot more Hokulea are free to join the search. Also, he's getting the Bad Thoughts being cooped all the time so he needs some air to clear his head. Bad Thoughts include: how the people of Kamino are very much still dying from starvation and sickness and how Linna was killed because of him...

Then Shingetsu drops down to tell Belca that things are going well when it comes to reconstruction efforts, which she's backed up on by Tenko. The priests are waking up so Belca wants to use the opportunity to talk to somebody. Shingetsu offers to help him but Belca says there are things he has to do alone.

Belca talks to the priests, who introduce themselves as Carrel Dio and Luis Dio, advisors to the high priest. They thank Seamrog (who is also there) for saving them from their injuries (nearly exposing Musca's spy activities in the process). It's revealed that Prince Belca and Orcelito were marked to be killed by the high priest so the advisors came to Kamino to protect him. They were planning to hide Orcelito in the neighboring city of Tida but...that guard? Freaking jerk. He's gonna save the day, no matter what.

At the castle district (the 12th district specifically) near the Stone Capital's Chapel, Kiliko is informing the High Priest on quarantine procedures. He leaves coolly, ending the chapter with a veiled threat to the church.

Chapter 31

King Reitz the First, racist backstabber extraordinaire, is looking around a room before finding a book with Rovisco's handwriting in it. It's a notebook that Rovisco wrote about his travels...which Reitz makes fun of him for, calling him "sentimental". He goes out, ready to present himself as a god to his townspeople...but we skip forward years later, where Reitz is significantly less ballin and more bawling, revealing to his group he intends to confess to what actually happened in the records. His inner circle disagreed...via stabbing him to death. Forced into maytrdom, Reitz remembers the time Rovisco saved him from falling overboard after Reitz himself saved the ship. In the medical room with a painful wound in his leg, Rovisco gives him a star in lieu of the anesthesia they don't have, telling him it's a Stella Mallis, a star that protects the voyage. Reitz grumbles that he's not a sailor but Rovisco laughs it off. Reitz dies wondering if he should have died at sea.

So Kiliko is telling Orcelito all this along with all the history we already know. The important thing we learn is Lagen's family are relatives with Rovisco's descendants. Rovisco's child, Marco (apparently the correct pronunciation of Mukuro) left the Hokulea village and struggled in Caluone region. He settled down eventually next to and showed his grandchildren to the neighboring princes to be engaged. When enough trust was built, the doctor was allowed to marry his daughter and be entrusted with his domain. Even after they became noble class, the descendants of Marco ran away from their family name but Kiliko and a bunch of scholars found out about them by rooting through a bunch of old archives. The scholars got in contact with the descendants and over time, the duke gain ownership of the Caluone region, which led to a lot of infighting among the duke's sons. Other sons were adopted and the older dukes handed over their titles and the Caluone region. This is how the Lagen ascended to power. Kiliko tells Orcelito that he was ordered to protect his bloodline and to extend it no matter the cost. So that's that.

So The Plague is still a thing and Orcelito and Kiliko are still mad about that. Oh and Orcelito got a letter from Belca. It says that he and the boys have saved half the population of a kingdom and he wants to meet up. Kiliko points out that this is similar to what happened last time. Orcelito is convinced Belca is being used in Kamino, refusing to believe that medicine can cure The Plague. Kiliko is a little bit more reasonable about the situation but Orcelito doubles down by saying the Spirit of Favrille's Divine Protection saved the people. The main point he doesn't believe the medicine can help them and if word of a "cure" reaches other regions...Orcelito just hopes the whole thing will blow over.

In the Regia Solaris guest room, Linna is getting dressed. And Musca scares him from inside the fireplace. They chat for a bit before Linna sends Musca off, Kiliko entering the room shortly after. They wanna talk about Belca...

Musca runs off but ends up bumping into the High Priest, who almost recognizes her but she covers by saying she's her own substitute.

Seamrog is off to Kamino and the chapter ends with Kiliko telling Orcelito that he needs to stop Musca's "game" already, with Orcelito agreeing. He says he'll arrange things so that she can't leave the castle.

Chapter 30

In March, at Kutsukuranto South Highway Road at Vieza Kamino, medicine and fruit are being handed out. Belca and Tenko are there. Belca talks to a doctor who thanks for letting him operate without reporting The Plague, saying doing so would have doomed every person there. Belca says that the doctor is doing the real legwork and the doctor brushes it off, saying he didn't believe he would see the day where The Plague would finally be cured. If only they weren't racist towards the Hokulea...the day would have come sooner.

Eco then forces the medicine on Belca, saying if he dies, everyone in Kamino will be upset. The medicine tastes awful but hey: everything can't be fruit gummies and Flintstone Vitamins. Speaking of, you're probably wondering why they're in Kamino and not in the Sacred Land, considering it has not been established that they have had their X-gene activated and developed teleportation powers. Well...

At the Heavenly Spire, they heard the song. The Song of The Men Who Came Up From Beyond The Waterfalls. The song that describes Rovisco's and Reitz's story. However, that story had a missing part: there was a woman named Konalia who informed the Hokulea and the people on their side of Reitz's betrayal, causing them to take up arms to fight against him for themselves and the Hokulea. They lost. Bad. The Hokulea were forced to go into seclusion, Konalia's son Muruko being advised to leave and go to the Stone Capital. Muruko says he will leave...but he will never forget the lives that were taken and the vengeance that they're owed. The Hokulea elder tells him to forget it, saying time heals everything but Muruko refuses, disappearing after being given the names of "Robeena", "Kirie" and "Balbareous". These names are only remembered through the song.

Belca says that means that Captain Rovisco's descendant is still alive somewhere. Eco reveals that's how the Lagen family chooses their names; he's only surprised that the tradition stretches that far back. Belca, remembering that Eco's real name is Francesco and that Francie is Azapurade's main port, starts to piece something together...but Eco continues, saying the current head of the Lagen family is Balbaresko who adopted the child of his lover, the only child of Adien, who had his name changed to Kiliko. Belca finally points out that the family that abandoned Eco was the Lagen family, which Eco confirms. Eco says that the family was born from hatred.

Eco says he wrote down all the songs in his poem book so if anyone looks at it, he can just say it's material for his songs. Then he says that all he wanted to do was see if the legend that his family believes was true and, having found that out, he's fine with ending his journey right here. Then Subaru comes up and calls Eco Suisei (comet) and Belca Akatsuki (Red Moon), telling Belca those are their names that she and Renjou came up with yesterday. She then reminds them that besides the Hokulea, no one is allowed to leave from the Sacred Lands before saying those are their new names because THEY CAN NEVER LEAVE.

Neither Belca nor Eco are bothered by that, Belca instead trying to take the opportunity to ask if Hector got a name like that before Tenko interrupts, saying he checked with the pharmacist and a few of the soldiers have been recovering.

In the present, the doctor says he can't believe the soldiers were just going to watch an entire town die and he's grateful to Renjou and Belca for helping them. Belca notes that the crown prince's territories belong to Orcelito but they are still loyal to Hector. Belca then prepares to head to the Western Clinic, hoping to make the people's day by showing up like John Cena does for the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Everyone does like seeing him, even letting Shingetsu beat up Eco for being annoying.

Two weeks earlier in the same place, in front of the city gate, the gate guards were ready to shoot anyone to keep them from leaving quarantine. Then Belca arrived on horseback, showing off Prince Hector's flag. He then orders them to let him in. The guards, while horrified, note he did not say let anyone out and he's a royal so...they obey. The people see Belca coming, thinking he's there to kill them. He assures them he's not, the opposite in fact: he's there to declare The Plague was no longer incurable. The people are like, "Okay...but why are The Hokulea with you? Are they going to use black magic on us?". But they recognize Hector's flag so they let him speak, Belca saying he's there to continue his older brother's work.

They did all they could but they only managed to save half the population. Still, the people regard them as heroes. But The Plague has been fought, at least...still, Spring is coming and the snow on the mountains will melt. The Stone Capital will most likely launch an attack on the Hokulea. Tenko says that even though they can't leave Kamino whenever they like, they can still communicate with birds. He also reports that there has been no headway on the investigation on the relationship between Lord Lagen and Lord Ruebelli and the Succession Ceremony has yet to be performed. Eco says it serves them right. Belca ends the chapter wondering what exactly is going on in the palace...

Chapter 29

At Lord Ruebelli's territory named Seon, he receives news from a "comrade" who tells him that Lord Taine has joined up with the Lagens and that considering that he's already been interrogated, he should be more careful around Lord Lagen. And it's the fifth letter he's got. His nephew tells him not to be bothered by these rumors, reminding him he went to school with Lord Altol. Lord Rebelli says he has to go back to the castle...

Back at the sacred land, Belca looks over the wounded Eco, ruefully noting he couldn't do anything. Then he hears a voice that sounds like Hector from outside and rushes out to the doorway...only to be met by Hector's former attendant, Yan Yashuka Koal. In these lands, he's known as Tenko. Acting according to Prince Hector's final wish, he did not attend his funeral and instead went directly to the Hokulea to protect them. He thought the whole situation was fishy but he couldn't disobey his orders. Thankfully, things have been going good since Lord Taine is the only acting officer for defense and his power cannot reach the sacred lands. Belca thanks him, for honoring his brother and protecting the Hokulea. Tenko notes that Belca sure has changed since he last saw him and that he's sorry for what happened in the spire, having already entrusted that territory to a trustworthy person. He himself came here to protect the High Priestess. He also apologizes for what happened to Eco but Belca stops him, saying that it happened because he wasn't stronger. Tenko tries to assure him that there was nothing he could do but Belca says he still has a bunch of questions for him so he needs to talk to him for a while. Tenko agrees.

Once upon a time, when the heavenly spire was built, there was said to be five High Priestesses but it's just Master Renju (The Gatekeeper) and Master Subaru (The Shaman). Master Subaru serves as the eyes and ears of Master Renju, still being in training but possessing immense power as well as the ability to sing. The latter point is important because there are no history books recording the history of the Hokulea. Their history is kept through oral tradition in the form of singing and folk songs. If that's the case, should there be a song about the incidents regarding Reitz the First? Wondering that out loud is how Tenko finds out he read "that book" (hidden in that porn). Turns out singing the song of history is a difficult task, so difficult that Renjou's body is too weak to sing it and Tenko has never heard it before. When Eco recovers, both priestesses might sing it for both him and Belca. Tenko asks if he can listen to it with them. Belca says it's fine...then he hears shouting from the underground prison.

Shingetsu is seriously about to fuck up Izayoi, saying he betrayed them for the people of the Stone Capitol. Izayoi says that there are people like Prince Hector, Prince Belca and even Prince Orcelito promised that a law would be passed to keep the Hokulea from being hunted. He believes that they can fully put their differences behind them one day. That's why he can't work with Shingetsu because she only thinks about fighting. War begets more war...everyone's just gonna end up being killed just like Taihaku and his group. Shingetsu says that she might not be right but what he did was stupid, Belca rushing down to stop her before Renjou beats him to it. Izayoi begs Belca to tell Shingetsu that Prince Orcelito has already agreed to help the Hokulea and Belca...doesn't? He just recognizes him.

Renjou, walking off with Shingetsu, says Izayoi isn't alone in his feelings; everyone's tired of this. Of course, there are still those who want to go to war. Renjou then mentions that they were saved by a virus, causing Belca to ask Tenko what became of the soldiers. Tenko says they fear it's The Plague.

Going to visit them as they're being treated (the Hokulea are more resistant to The Plague than the Azelprade people), Tenko explains The Plague is the result of the squirrel mouse contracting the disease and spreading it to humans. The climb through the mountains probably lowered the guards' strength to combat the disease. Belca asks if they're going to die. Tenko says he doesn't know.

Meanwhile, Orcelito is lying in bed, angsting. He thinks he's no different than the elders now, having strayed from his path. Kiliko comes in with tea and tells him not to feel bad about Kamino, given it's forbidden to wander around during The Plague. Orcelito says he keeps acting really familiar with him considering he killed his brother and Kiliko basically responds, "Old news.". Orcelito says he was just feeling nostalgic so Kiliko moves in on him, saying it's time for a little chat...

So on the roads on the West Raka Street, Lord Ruebelli arrives at a VIP hotel. He wants the special room but it's already been taken by a guest. He demands to know who...and of course, it's Lord Lagen. Lord Ruebelli goes in to confront him and asks if it's because of The Plague that everyone in his territories have left to go to the kingdom. Lagen coldly excuses himself and Ruebelli notes that he always acts like he's so much better than him...he goes to his room, drinks and burns it down with him inside it. Meanwhile, Kiliko tells Orcelito his family's secret close enough that the private guards don't hear...

So Belca tells Eco about the priestesses' situation and he then says he has no choice to press forward, using everything from others to his own body as chess pieces to achieve his goals. Belca says he chooses to believe him.

The two go to see the siblings and it's time for the performance. They'll be using the flow of music a.k.a. the words passed down from different generations and weaving them into the music, making the lyrics sing of prophecy and time. The chapter ends with everyone waiting...

Chapter 28:

It's a party at the castle and everyone's gossiping. Orcelito comes out to do some politcking only to return to his room with Kiliko in tow, exhausted with people's bullshit. Kiliko then gives him a report from the Private Guards telling Orcelito that Count Meteola of the Third Brigade has been making deals with the Mana Guild (a clan of slave-dealing merchants) who oppose the creation of concentration camps for the Hokulea. Kiliko then tells him the Third Brigade wants to join the search for Belca. Orcelito is scared that they'll try to hunt the Hokulea and Kiliko says that's a strong possibility because of the proposed ban on hunting them.

The guards are already at the Sacred Place and have already taken down several attendants, already bragging about conquering the place. Then one begins to complain about the area being a bit hot...

Back with the Shaman, she tells those gathered that the guards have invaded and are armed with poisoned arrows. They need to follow her to Iwaya. An attendant protests because Belca and Eco are from the Stone Capital but the Shaman says the High Priestess have recognized them. The siblings leave to hold off the guards and Belca wants to help, saying the guards are there because of him but Shingetsu tells him he needs to stay behind to protect the High Priestess. She doesn't trust Eco so it's up to him. Belca, absolutely picking up what she's putting down, leaves with the others, thinking he wants to trust Eco but...

On the way to the Iwaya, the group is cut off by the guards who are prepared to shoot the Hokulea down. Belca runs in front and orders them to put their weapons down at once but a guard denies it's him since he's dressed in the clothes of the Hokulea, saying it's one disguised as him. It's back to razing! Belca is forced to fend them off with a knife as the siblings discover the passed out guards from earlier, thinking the cold got to them. The gatekeeper comes down to inform them that the other guards are falling to the same fate; they might be able to win! He runs off to tell the others but Tenrou is distracted by something...

At the bridge to Iwaya, Belca notices the guards' moves are getting more sluggish and predictable. At first, he thinks they're making fun of him before he suspects they have fallen under a curse of some kind. The guards blame the shaman for cursing them and break through Belca's guard to kill her. Eco protects her with his body and the guard is prepared to kill him for allying with the Hokulea before the Gatekeeper throws his spear, knocking his dagger out of his hand. Oh yeah, the Gatekeeper is a girl (take a shot!) and she is another High Priestess. And the Hokulea besides her is wearing the same outfit that the one who accompanied Hector into the kingdom was wearing. Then the guards pass out...but the Hokulea didn't do anything to them. The attendant to the Gatekeeper High Priestess checks one of them, saying he has the "illness"...

The chapter ends with Shingetsu chasing Izayoi, one of the Hokulea who accompanied them, and says that he led the guards here...

Chapter 27

So off to the Sacred Lands!

That dead end? Invisible bridge. Test of faith, you know how it works. Its snow obstructing the view of the bridge to be clearer, as Belca finds out. On the non-invisible bridge that the invisible bridge leads to, Belca again considers leaving Eco behind because he can barely be trusted before Shingetsu gets hollered at by the young gatekeeper. Belca introduces himself to ask for an audience with the shaman. The gatekeeper says it's fine...but he needs to shower. So he can eat him. Joking! He needs to shower to warm himself up from the cold.

Meanwhile, all but one of the guards are dead and the ones on their tail say they have to "save" their highness...even if they have to kill a bunch of Hokulea non-combatants to do so.

At the palace, Kiliko tells Orcelito the letter to Ujita has been sent. Now, another letter from Lord Taine's region, Lobnec says that his son Altruing and his family have gone missing at the maintainence shop. That's a problem because Altruing is better at handling the region than his predecessors so they kind of need him alive...

Meanwhile, the nobles are discussing Rovisco and the whole "war of the elders" thing, noting it's gotten out of hand. They think Lord Ruebelli's is the sneakiest among them, always walking around with a scowl on his face...Kiliko and Orcelito watch on, listening intently to the gossip with Kiliko's plant somewhere among them. Anyway, thanks to the "Guard Dog" incident, the Investiture is going smoothly. The remaining problem is Belca...Orcelito really shouldn't have treated his own brother so lightly...

Speaking of, Belca and Eco are warming up in a hot spring, Eco no longer whining about the cold. Belca takes this time to ask why Eco sings about history. He also asks himself, out loud, if bringing him here was the right decision. Eco responds by thanking him for bringing him along, saying that while he keeps a lot from him, he has never lied to him. He promises to be more open in the future and says that if he dies on this journey, it'll be worth it if he gets new material for songs. Belca tries to press him for details but an attendant comes in to fetch them, saying the shaman did not sense any ill intentions from them and they are allowed to see them. Leaving the bath room, Belca and Eco follow Tenrou and Shingetsu who will be translating for the Shaman. Eco hears singing but it's just the gatekeeper, going off to kill the snow tigers (the snow "leopards" from the last chapter was apparently a mistranslation).

The four approach the Shaman, a young woman who already knows who Belca is. She says he gives off a slightly different air than Hector, causing Belca to reveal it's because they have different mothers. Eco then has to introduce himself only for the Shaman to reveal that "Eco" is not his real name. Eco, speaking the Hokulea's language, asks how she knows. He says he heard the Hokulea were more in tuned with nature but he doesn't believe in magic. The Shaman answers that all living things have spirits and the Hokulea can communicate with them; that is their "magic". The power may have faded with time but the Hokulea ensured that the abilities remained within the bodies of the Shaman. The Shaman before him is the High Priest. Hearing all that, Eco asks a different question: he starts by revealing his real name, Francesco, and disrobing to reveal a nasty scar on his side, the price of not abiding by the rules of his house. Belca is listening to all of this...but the chapter ends with attendants bursting in, shouting that there are intruders.

Chapter 26

So Eco is falling...

And Belca catches him, cursing him out for following along when he's not prepared for it. Eco's huffing is interrupted by Tenrou pointing out snow leopards are following them (in a European setting) so they need to camp for the night. In their camping cave, Tenrou calls Belca over to see about Eco...because he's worried that Shingetsu might want to marry him.

Apparently, this is the first she's spoken about bringing a man with them on their travels. Clearly, this whole thing is a test of eligibility. Tenrou accuses his sister of wanting someone who's her opposite and that while Eco is fun, he cannot have him for an older brother. So there's only one logical solution...Belca has to marry Shingetsu so that he and Tenrou will be brothers! Shingetsu hits Tenrou and apologizes for her brother's jackassery. She does drag Belca off to talk about Eco though...

Back at the royal palace, Lord Dien's carriage is ready, him wanting to get the fuck out of Dodge before The Plague hits. He would go to Orcelito for help but the latter's more concerned about Belca. But Belca should be dead anyway, right? Another lord tells them to watch their mouths since Orcelito, until they got Belca's dead body, is not the last remaining blood heir for the throne. Hell, their using poison to expedite the process is a show of them rushing to promote their own rank. Lord Lagen walks in, saying he can't believe "The Knights Of The Round Table" are talking like this. They're knights, they don't need underhanded tactics...like Kiliko's ass. Luckily, the very present Kiliko takes it as a compliment.

Outside, Lord Lagen points out to Kiliko that as soon as a cure for The Plague, he is to return to the kingdom immediately. Belca needs to come back alive because no one's sure if Orcelito wants to have heirs to the throne (assigned gay by the kingdom). Kiliko agrees but expresses his surprise that Lagen is not making a fuss about the royal bloodline. That's when Lagen figures it's time to tell him something...the Lagen's secret.

Meanwhile, Musca sneaks into the inner palace where she finds a small house. Still in denial over her maid's death, she ventures over to find her only to have to hide from a passing noble. She walks in, discovering her maid is not there...but in good news, Linna is recuperating in bed!

Musca recognizes him and hides under his bed when Kiliko comes in to drug him. Why drug a wounded man? He needs to interrogate him. Kiliko tells Linna that Belca is outside the castle gates and that they don't want him to stop Orcelito from ascending to the throne. Kiliko doesn't want to kill him so he asks Linna to get him to come back. If Belca does come back, they will ensure his needs are met in the palace. If he doesn't want to stay in the castle, they can arrange for him to live outside of the walls. Linna tries to talk back but the extent of his injuries and the drugs fucking him off causes him to writhe in agony instead, forcing the interrogation to be cut short. Kiliko tells him he'll come back later and says Linna is the only one who can save Belca. Linna becomes lucid as soon as Kiliko leaves, Musca crawling out from under his bed. He knows what they're planning him and grabs a nearby set of scissors to pierce his throat so that they can't use him against Belca. Musca stops him and he mistakes her for one of the healers. He tells her he knows they'll use the drugs to control him but Musca says who cares? She wants to be together with her maid, not get a new one. She leaves to go tell Seamrog, telling him not to try to kill himself again.

Finally back at the mountain, Belca reveals to Shingetsu that Eco saved his life and that he doesn't think he's a bad person. Shingetsu says even if that's the case, he has used underhanded methods like manipulation and poisoning in order to help him out. Is he helping him out of the goodness of his heart or for revenge or even glory in helping the prince? Belca tells her that Eco wants to write a song about him and she says she can't understand that reasoning, adding that while she tolerates trickery because she engages in it herself, if he points that weird shit towards the sacred lands or the Hokulea, she will personally kill him. Belca says that Eco would never do anything like that...then thinks "...Would he?". He's a weird dude and he knows a lot even for a scholar. Eco knows him but Belca doesn't know anything about Eco, like what he really wants. When they reach the sacred lands, can he trust him?

The next day, the group moves through a blizzard only to hit a dead end at a cliff...

Meanwhile, south of Main Street, the chapter ends with The Plague hitting the town, the mayor fretting about the roads being closed off if word reaches the castle.

Chapter 25

Orcelito receives word of the Great Plague from Kiliko, a plague that wiped out over 30% of the kingdom the last time it appeared. Oh and it turns out Eco is Lord Lagen's real son, you know, stuffed into a conversation about what went on. Kiliko, lying bitch that he be, has told Orcelito that Eco was responsible for Belca being taken away which has led Orcelito to not be a big fan of the black sheep. However, when the elders saw Belca protect Orcelito during the ceremony, it caused an upturn in his popularity in the court. Since Belca is gone again, Kiliko hopes those good impressions will fade away. I mean, no one actually wants him to be king, do they?

Orcelito and Kiliko walk out to see one of the elders, Lord Taine, to give him a pardon for what he pulled in his territory a few days ago.

But screw that, back to Belca and the Hokulea. Eco wants to come to see the High Priestess but he gets turned down despite him just wanting to learn about the Rovisco Records, having even studied the Hokulea written language just for that goal. Belca says no because the journey is too dangerous telling him to wait in a town for him until he returns. Eco says he's mean. Belca says he doesn't care. Then Saisei, the Hokulea child from the cave, calls Belca over to apologize, holding himself responsible for Linna's death. Belca mentally acknowledges that yeah, it's true that if they hadn't come, Linna would still be alive...but they wouldn't have come at all if it wasn't for how badly they were fucked over by rewritten history so he tells Saisei to not worry about it.

Then a squirrel drops on Belca's head. Wouldn't be strange if it wasn't for the fact that the particular species is alien to this specific area so it shouldn't be here. That's when Eco points out the animal is probably a scout; there are Azelprade guards nearby.

Back at Neue Favrille, Musca is still sneaking around while remembering that Seamrog told her he can't come back with her to the castle despite being her knight because if he were to return, he would have his head chopped off. He'll have to support her from behind the scenes...and Musca will have to be a cool mercenary girl!

So as a cool mercenary girl, she runs around in the castle looking for the corpse of somebody.

Meanwhile, guards are indeed looking for Belca with the Hokulea hiding from them. Naturally, it's around this time that the Hokulea figure out that Eco is the weird guy that led them into a trap for the purpose of saving Belca. Eco defends himself by saying that he was threatened into taking them to the palace and he kept details to himself because be honest, would you tell the people who are there to kill the royal family that one of the members of that family was a friend of yours? The Hokulea go "fair enough" and prepare to split into three different directions, Shingetsu letting Eco come along for whatever reason as the chapter ends.

Chapter 24

So to sum up, Reitz the First killed Captain Rovisco, claimed the Hokulea were monsters from a fairy tale to justify killing and enslaving them and the entire history taught to the kingdom has all been a lie.

Eco postulates the theory the whole story could have been made up by the author to discredit King Reitz but if that's true, why would Prince Hector go through all the trouble of hiding the pages and entrusting them to Prince Belca? Belca remembers Kiliko telling him that Hector wasn't stopped, the kingdom would have been ruined so he was probably referring to the records they have in their possession. Eco suggests they might just laugh and call it a good story...that is, if it were released under normal circumstances. If Prince Hector released it, however, then people would be more liable to believe it. I mean, they had him offed for a reason. Belca says Eco doesn't look too surprised and Eco is about to explain why before Shingetsu walks in, saying the Hokulea elder and priestess wants to hear their story.

Meanwhile, Musca is on her own and hearing some nobles talking shit about her older brother, is about to fuck them up before a guard catches her, mistaking her for a noble due to the emblem on the hat she swiped. They even think she's a little boy. She sneaks off only for a piece of a windmill to fall on top of her...only for Seamrog to show up out of nowhere and rescue her.

He says he was planning on escaping but the payment she gave him was too much. So he'll stick around for a while longer...

Back at the village, Belca tells them they need to escape from the mountains before the Stone Capital try to take it from them. The head of the Hokulea says they have based their entire lives around the mountain and they can't just leave; in fact, Belca needs to go so that he won't get hurt. However, they are grateful for his information and invites to spend the night, have a banquet and then he can go home. Belca then asks if Rovisco and Tri Cantina ring a bell. The leader answers in the negative.

Eco and Belca sulk outside, saying that's all they can do. Eco says Belca can come with him on his bard adventures. After all, Linna would want him to be happy like that. Then Belca gets jumped by a friendly male villager...then Shingetsu tells Belca that even though the head of the Hokulea says they can't leave, he will tell the villagers the situation. The siblings are going to talk to the priestess tomorrow so there's nothing to worry about! Belca goes to his quarters to eat and think of Linna...but wait, he remembers what Shingetsu said about an ancient bloodline...looks like some more reading needs to be done.

Leaving early in the morning, Belca stops Shingetsu and Tenrou to ask if he can see the priestess too. Shingetsu says the sacred lands is off-limits to outsiders; if he goes with them, he can't come back alive. Belca says he understands but he won't just stand there and let himself get killed. Funnily enough, that response was the exact same thing Hector said when he was in the same situation. The chapter ends with Shingetsu letting him come, saying if his determination is half-baked, the journey itself should kill him.